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'Continuous development of a workforce with professionalism and integrity'
Strategic development and focused training of staff resources remain the key functions of the HR Division in the years to come. We see the importance of maintaining a highly motivated and committed workforce in face of new challenges generated from rising public expectations.
The Management and Development Training Programme formulated for Mid-career Officers has been in full swing over the years. The programme aims at mapping out a structured career path for the participants and preparing them for succession as they rise through the ranks. Continuous efforts will also be exerted to establish closer ties with local and overseas organisations and explore new opportunities for management and development of staff through training and field attachment.
With support of the policy bureau, recruitment of staff has been initiated to fill the vacancies arising from natural wastage. In the year, we recruited 38 Officers, six Industrial Officers and 87 Assistant Officers II.
On staff relations, we have established an effective consultative mechanism, effectively maintaining a useful dialogue with staff representatives for dissemination of information and enhance understanding on new policies and issues of staff concern.
To sustain the quality of staff, the Department's initiatives to promote a healthy life style and cultivate a life-long learning culture will not cease. The Correctional Services Staff Volunteer Group will continue to reach out to the community and project the best of our staff services to the public through commitment and selflessness.
YUNG Kwok-leung
Assistant Commissioner (Human Resource) |
Fostering Life-long Learning Culture
Under the principal objective to meet the growing demand for quality human assets, during 2006, the Department had successfully introduced a series of initiatives fostering the life-long learning culture as well as enhancing the professionalism of staff members. |
Foundational and Essential Training
To bring in high quality members to serve the community, the Staff Training Institute (STI) dedicates to provide fundamental but solid basic training for the newly recruited staff members. Recruit training aims to provide new personnel with basic knowledge and skills for carrying out their duties and a foundation orientation of correctional work towards the improvement of human resources. The duration of training for recruit Officers is 26 weeks and that for recruit Assistant Officers II is 23 weeks including a two-week field placement at penal institutions. The contents of Recruit Training emphasise on both theory and practice. The training syllabus includes Laws of Hong Kong, rules and regulations, counselling, social work techniques, management, psychology, criminology, penology, first-aid, foot drill, anti-riot drill, self-defence, emergency response tactics, the use of weapons, scenario training, adventure training and field training, etc. In response to ever-changing societal needs, subjects such as Putonghua and knowledge on Basic Law have been included in the training curriculum. In 2006, 59 recruited Officers, nine recruited Industrial Officers and 87 recruited Assistant Officers II participated in the Recruit Training Course.
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| Drill is an important part of discipline training. |
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Training for the Future
To upkeep the rhythm of the Management Development and Training Programme (MDTP) which was introduced in mid-2005, the 10-module training programme that aims to enhance the multi-dimensional knowledge and skills for mid-career officers had been organised throughout the year. The diversified training topics of MDTP included operational knowledge, report writing skills, handling of media, human resource and financial management, communication and leadership skills, disciplinary practice and procedures, project management, etc. This programme not only serves as the platform for their acquisition of knowledge, but also enhances the vision of those eligible officers for achieving their career aspiration through the centralised training opportunities. Until the end of 2006, 67 Principal Officers and 57 Officers successfully completed the whole programme and were cultivated as committed and motivated workforce for the future succession. |
Full Scale Implementation of the Experiential Learning
Apart from the routine classroom training, whole-scale implementation of the adventure-based learning had been achieved in 2006. In recognition of the art deco "Challenge Course"-- a multi-functional outdoor training facility established in STI, adventure-based training such as rope course, sport climbing, abseiling and other challenging team building activities had been organised and incorporated into most of the existing training programme. In light of this compact training facility, the ultimate aims to facilitate the experiential learning of staff members as to improve the communication competence, problem solving ability, team cooperation, trust building and self confidence of the participants had been gradually accomplished. |
Firearms Training
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| The refurnished outdoor range provides staff with a venue for professional shooting practice. |
With the facilitation of the Indoor Firing Range and the newly renovated Outdoor Firing Range, firearms training become more complete and oriented. Customised training programmes were arranged to accommodate the operational requirement of the tower and escort duties staff. Besides, the well-scheduled firearms refresher-training programmes had also re-enforced the knowledge of staff members in handling firearms purposefully. In 2006, 741 staff underwent firearms training and participated in firearms practice. |
Striving for Professionalism and Benchmarking of Standards
Emphasising the importance to work with ever rising expectation from the public, we piloted a series of tailor-made development training and management programmes for our staff in the year. The scope of these training programmes included command course, refresher course, functional course for staff working in different types of penal institutions, duties-oriented course for staff in special duties, etc (see Appendix 14).
To re-engineer the staff force with advanced skills and knowledge to meet the challenges ahead, we arranged specialist and professional training courses throughout the year. The Correctional Emergency Response Team Training Course was organised this year for staff prepared to take up posts in the emergency response teams of the Department. Important and essential elements such as tactical practices, scenario exercises, firearms training, etc. were incorporated in the course.
To meet the training need of the frontline staff, we organised jointly with the Outward Bound Training School a total of six classes of Team Building Course for 71 Assistant Officers to enhance their leadership skill and teamwork spirit.
More significantly, we have been working closely with universities, managerial consultants and professional as well as the Civil Service Training and Development Institute of Civil Service Bureau on the provision of quality co-opted courses as well as the generation of new training perspectives. We are dedicated to enhance the accreditation of our staff training through the means of such significant partnership.
In 2006, we conducted a total of 269 development training courses of different nature for 4 208 staff members. |
Pledge to the Community
In support of the initiatives driven by the Education and Manpower Bureau to develop the confidence, self-discipline, interpersonal skills, team-work and physical fitness for secondary schools students, the Department continued to organise the Smart Teen Challenge Camp for such purposes. The five-day residential and disciplinary training programme was held in STI, through which participants had achieved significant enhancement for their personal quality and interpersonal collaboration. In 2006, a total of 198 students participated in the programme.
As one of the key tourist spots of the region, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum not only serves as a channel between the Department and the community, but also showcases the public the evolution of the penal system of Hong Kong and the role of the Department as an integral part of the criminal justice system. Guided tour services to group visitors like school students and other non-governmental organisations were provided with the importance of rehabilitation of inmates and their acceptance by society being well illustrated. During the year, the Museum served over 570 visiting groups and with a total of 55 804 visitors. |
Staff Relations and Welfare
The Staff Relations and Welfare Unit co-ordinates all matters relating to staff welfare and offers immediate assistance to staff and their family members when in need. In addition, the Unit provides logistical support for staff in major operations.
The Correctional Services Department Welfare Fund provides loans and, in special cases, grants for serving and retired personnel and for family members of deceased staff who are in need of financial assistance.
The Department has initiated an award scheme in 2004 to enhance staff welfare. In May 2006, six winners of the 'Best All Round Staff in Respective Institutions' were granted this award to join the Singapore Study Tour. The delegation was led by the Assistant Commissioner (Quality Assurance). They visited the drug rehabilitation centres, prison school and prisons in Singapore. The awardees found the study tour very fruitful and useful in exchanging views with Singaporean counterparts on penal management matters.
The Unit also administers the Correctional Services Department Central Fund to provide insurance coverage to our staff on voluntary participation. As at the end of 2006, 2 789 members joined the Central Fund.
The Correctional Services Department Credit Union has been set up since June 1991. It aims to promote thrift among its members and it receives savings from members and makes loans to them. As at the end of 2006, the Credit Union had 4 699 members.
During the year, the Correctional Services Children's Education Trust continued to provide financial assistance to children of Assistant Officers and equivalent grades in the Department to assist them in pursuing higher education. Disabled children undertaking full-time education or training also received financial assistance from the Trust. In 2006, a total of $754,664 was granted to 129 recipients from the Trust. |
Sports and Recreation
The Department continues to promote a healthy lifestyle amongst staff in which sports and recreation play a major part. Sports and recreation activities are organised by the Department in partnership with the Correctional Services Department Sports Association (CSDSA). Emphasis is placed on sustaining physical fitness amongst staff members and cultivating their esprit de corps. A Leisure Services Manager is seconded from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to give professional advice and assistance in planning and arranging activities.
During the year, a variety of activities were organised. Apart from the major annual events such as Annual Sports Meet, Swimming Gala and Family Outing on Hei Ling, nine inter-institutional sport competitions were organised. In March 2006, an 80-strong delegation was sent to Macau at the Third Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macau Correctional Officers Sports Meet to participate a series of sports competition including badminton, basketball, running, shooting and soccer. The delegation achieved the overall First Runner-up, and won one champion and four First Runner-ups on competition items.
There were 35 sports teams/clubs sponsored by the CSDSA in the year and most of them participated actively in various open competitions. In 2006, the basketball, bowling, distance running, dragon boat, golf, indoor rowing, lawn bowls, shooting, and soccer teams achieved marvelous results in public competitions.
In November 2006, nine trailwalker teams including three female teams participated in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2006 with the fastest one completed the 100km trail by 21 hours 11 minutes. In the year, 12 sports teams of CSDSA participated in a series of competitions in the Corporate Games 2006 and achieved the First Runner-up of Group C (Government Departments).
To promote healthy lifestyle, various recreational activities were organised for staff and their family members. The annual Autumn Fair in Stanley was held on November 4. Donations from the funds raised were made to more than 35 agencies for charity purpose. Over 1 600 staff and their family members participated in the Family Outing on Hei Ling held on December 10.
The CSDSA Recreation Complex situated in Ma Hang Prison was renovated in the year. It provides both indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities, such as karaoke, barbecue site, archery range, golf driving range, putting green, aviary, basketball court and soccer pitch. It continued to be well patronised by staff and their family members in the year. |
Community Involvement
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| Staff offer backup support to members in the Oxfam Trailwalker. |
During 2006, the Department continued to participate in various charity events. In the fund-raising events organised by the Community Chest, the Department was awarded the Third Top Donor of Civil Service Category, an Outstanding Award for Employee Contribution Programme, the Silver Donor Award of the Corporate & Employee Contribution Programme, the Second Highest Donation Award of the CARE Scheme – Civil Service Category. |
Volunteer Services
To better co-ordinate and support volunteer services undertaken by serving and retired volunteer staff, the Correctional Services Staff Volunteer Group (CSSVG) was established on 4 February 2005. It aims to extend our spirit of care to the community through benevolent activities. The Volunteer Group is managed by an Executive Committee.
As at the end of the year, a total of 1 119 members were organised under 14 units. Amongst them, 916 were ordinary members and 203 were associated members.
During 2006, the CSSVG participated in a wide range of volunteer activities. Among these activities, the participation rate of the decommissioning of Victoria Prison held in March was particularly encouraging. Around 260 members provided volunteer services during the five-day celebration events including Charity Open Day, Farewell Parade and Jail House Rock variety show. Also, in October, about 100 members had provided services for crowd control during the fund raising charity walk of the Correctional Services Department Credit Union Education Fund in Sha Tin. |
Staff Consultation
Staff consultation meetings are held at regular intervals to foster staff relations. The two Departmental Consultative Committees (DCCs), namely the Senior Departmental Consultative Committee (SDCC) and the Junior Departmental Consultative Committee (JDCC), met quarterly in the year to discuss issues of staff concern.
On SDCC, there is representation from the members of the Correctional Services Officers' Association (CSOA), Hong Kong Correctional Services General Union (HKCSGU) and the Correctional Services Department Staff Branches/Class Unit Joint Conference, Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association. On JDCC, apart from the three associations mentioned, there is also representation from members of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Assistant Officers General Association (AOGA).
Ad-hoc consultation was conducted with staff side representatives in 2006 to solicit staff views on particular matters such as officers' accommodation and the final 90-day extension of service beyond retirement age. |
Staff Associations and Unions
In November 2006, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Female Institutions Assistant officers Association was set up, making a total of five registered staff associations and unions in the Department. The others are the Correctional Services Officers' Association, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Assistant Officers General Association, the Hong Kong Correctional Services General Union and the Association for the Retired Staff of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department. They maintain effective communication with the Department. |
Staff Psychological Services
The Staff Psychological Service is headed by a clinical psychologist to enhance the work efficacies and psychological well being of staff. The Service runs two centres in Stanley and Lai Chi Kok to provide staff and their families with psychotherapy and facilities such as massage chairs and audio-visual resources to better equip them on occupational and life stress management.
Articles were published in departmental newsletter The Guardian, and in-service training was conducted by the Clinical Psychologist (Staff Services) on various mental health aspects including occupational stress management, healthy lifestyle and harmonious family relationships. The talks were delivered to more than 1 400 staff during the year.
Further to these training on staff mental health issues, Clinical Psychologist (Staff Services) also responded to crises on staff. Individual psychotherapy service was also provided to staff and their family with psychological and emotional problems arising from work and interpersonal relationship. In 2006, 47% of the centre's consultation service was related to family issues while 31% was on work-related issues. |
Awards and Commendations
In the 2006 Honours List, one staff member was awarded the Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Distinguished Service (CSDSM) and six awarded Hong Kong Correctional Services Medal for Meritorious Service (CSMSM). In the year, a total of 101 staff members were awarded the commendations of Secretary for Civil Service, Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners or Civil Secretary for their meritorious contributions made in the course of duty. Their names are at Appendix 15.
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| CSD receives the third top donor accolade in the Civil Service Category at the Community Chest Annual Award Presentation Ceremony. Picture shows Assistant Commissioner (Human Resource) Yung Kwok-leung receiving the award from Mrs Selina Tsang, President of the Community Chest. |
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| The Department receives numerous awards by participating in various charity and fund-raising events, including the Corporate and Employee Contribution Programme, Skip Lunch Day, Walk for Millions, Hong Kong Disneyland Day and the Victoria Prison Decommissioning Open Day. |
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