| Correctional Services Industries |
 |
The work of Correctional Services Industries (CSI) in 2008 again reflected the increasing challenges it faced. With the complex operating environment and high customer demands, fulfilling our statutory role of providing sufficient useful work for the prisoners has become a more demanding task. Special efforts were required to maintain smooth and efficient industrial operations at various institutions, and to deliver quality and cost-effective products and services to our customers. We are fortunate to have a strong team of dedicated and talented staff to meet these challenges.
In the year under review, numerous projects were initiated and implemented. These mainly included development of new products with advanced features, process reengineering for improving efficiency and quality, replacement of aged facilities and enhancement of staff training for strengthening the overall capability of CSI.
Supporting the Department in the provision of comprehensive rehabilitative services is another important role of CSI. An in-depth review of CSI was completed by end 2008 and the functions of CSI were reaffirmed as the provider of meaningful work and vocational training in useful trades for prisoners to facilitate their reintegration into society after discharge. In the coming year, apart from our continual efforts in securing sufficient and suitable work for the prisoners to assist prison management, we will also focus on enhancing prisoners' capacity and employability through introducing more vocational training elements to their daily work to help their reintegration. We expect such initiative will let the roles and functions of CSI further go in line with the Department's policy for rehabilitation of offenders.
LO Huen
General Manager (Correctional Services Industries)
The Correctional Services Industries (CSI) contributes to the Department's mission through the provision of work to prisoners. Engaging prisoners in meaningful work helps reduce their idleness and tension and therefore contributes to maintaining prison stability. Providing prisoners with skill training and real world work environment helps them develop healthy lifestyle and good working habit and therefore contributes to facilitating their rehabilitation.
CSI provides a wide range of goods and services to the public sector market in a cost effective manner to help reduce public expenditure and enable prisoners to contribute to the society during their imprisonment. The total commercial value of goods and services provided in 2008 was $397 million. A breakdown of commercial value by trades is at Appendix 19.
Employment of Prisoners
In 2008, a daily average of 5 256 prisoners were employed in 13 trades in more than 140 industrial workshops. Other prisoners were engaged in essential domestic duties such as cleaning, kitchen and maintenance work. Among the 13 trades, garment trade was the largest one employing over 1 900 prisoners. A breakdown of the employment by trade as on December 31, 2008 is at Appendix 20.
Business Development
 |
| A prisoner learns ironing skills under the guidance of an instructor. |
In the year under review, CSI continued to enhance its customer services and business operations to cope with the changing market environment and meet the increasing customer demands. To maintain adequate supply of work, special efforts were made to capture small batch orders like temporary traffic signs and printed products demanding quick response. Re-engineering of individual manufacturing processes like production of office furniture and fibreglass litter containers were also conducted to suit the increased proportion of not-so-skilful short-term prisoners.
CSI also played the role as a solution provider to customers such as committing to build up an emergent linen stock for the Hospital Authority to combat the possible outbreak of community epidemic deceases. After the successful development and completion of the windproof jackets made of laminated fabric for CSD staff, CSI is working with other disciplinary forces for supplying similar prestige products.
Facility Management
 |
| Technical Instructor teaches prisoner quality inspection work. |
To maintain the capability of providing quality products and services, CSI kept on replacing worn out production facilities as well as upgrading machinery and installations in workshops.
The Metal Workshop at Ma Po Ping Prison, which was demolished in 2006, was rebuilt and reopened in December 2008. Advanced tunnel finishers were installed at Shum Wan Laundry and Pik Uk Laundry to improve the overall finishing quality and pressing capacity for hospital uniform and clothing items. An additional filter mask production line was set up in Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution in May 2008 to meet the increasing demands for healthcare services.
To further upgrade the quality of garment products, we have installed some patented fully auto-fed snap buttoning machines and computerised auto-jig stitching machines in Stanley Prison for making the new windproof jackets.
Quality Management
Provision of quality products and services is not only essential in sustaining CSI's competitive edge for ensuring adequate supply of work, but is also helpful to the development of prisoners' sense of responsibility which is conducive for them to seek and keep employment after release. Apart from continual improvement in process and system control, CSI started in this year building up a database containing successful cases in development of products and re-engineering of production processes for knowledge and experience sharing among its staff at all operating levels.
In 2008, the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) conducted Renewal Audits and Surveillance Visits to our ISO 9001 accredited Sign Making workshops and Laundries. Audits were also conducted by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries on the Q-Mark certified Filter Masks workshop at Chi Sun Correctional Institution.
 |
 |
| Advanced tunnel finishers in Pik Uk Laundry. |
|
Application of Information Technology
 |
| Introduction of shoe-making industry to Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution increases the job variety for short-term female prisoners. |
CSI has been utilising advanced and effective information technology as a leverage to enhance administrative and operation efficiency. This strategic tool also allows prisoners to keep pace with the technological development in the outside world.
In 2008, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has approved the provision of $3.899 million to CSI for the redevelopment of the "Manufacturing Management and Control System" that has been used since 1994. The new system is under construction and will include an e-Ordering module for improving the efficiency and authenticity in receiving and processing orders from customers.
Staff Training and Staff Development
Training and development of staff has been one of CSI's prime activities to let the staff acquire update knowledge and know-how for efficient and effective operation, and to prepare for organisational succession.
During the year, 264 industrial staff attended 50 training and development programmes organised by CSI, Civil Service Training and Development Institute and other training providers. These programmes focused mainly on enhancing the knowledge of our industrial staff on production management, quality assurance, trade technical skills, occupational safety and health, and handling of prisoners at work.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
 |
| Highways Department staff visit sign-making workshop in Stanley Prison. |
The Department is committed to providing custodial and rehabilitative services in a decent, healthy, and safe manner. The Departmental OSH Steering Committee continued its leading role in the promotion of OSH and co-ordination of all related activities.
OSH committee meetings, risk assessments, safety reviews and seminars were conducted regularly throughout the year for continual improvement of work environment. The Policy Statement on OSH has also been reviewed to promulgate the steering actions and let staff understand that OSH is everybody's job.
The Way Forward
To address the increasing public expectations and better support the Department in the provision of comprehensive rehabilitative services, CSI will undergo organisational change in early 2009 with its role and objective modified to be more rehabilitation-oriented. Apart from providing prisoners with work to fulfill statutory requirement and assist prison management, vocational training elements will be introduced to prisoners' work to enhance their capability and capacity for employment after release. Employment-related external training programmes and courses will also be organised for prisoners to let them attain recognised qualifications for facilitating their reintegration into the society upon release.
 |
 |
| Auto and computerised garment-making machines are installed to meet demands in the market. |
|
|
