The CSD held the 10km Distance Run at the main dam of Plover Cove Reservoir in Tai Po on 11 January 2020 with over 500 participants, including serving and retired correctional officers as well as representatives from 13 government departments and organisations. An additional special event entitled “100km Team Challenge in Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of CSD” was organised for participants to compete in teams. Besides, kites painted by correctional officers, trainees and Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders were flown in the sky for celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the CSD.
Guardian for a Century
To the Department, 2020 is a very special and significant year. It has been 100 years since the then Prisons Department was tasked with the management of all the correctional facilities in Hong Kong after being independent from the Police Force in 1920. Over the past century, the correctional system in Hong Kong has undergone major changes to keep pace with social development. Evolving from its early focus on safe custody of persons in custody to today’s dual emphasis on custodial and rehabilitation services, the Department has been making its best endeavours to enhance the custodial level while pursuing its newly established focus on offender rehabilitation to help persons in custody re-integrate into society after release, so as to reduce crime, thereby reducing the number of crime victims and protecting public safety. In 1982, the Prisons Department was officially renamed as Correctional Services Department, representing a milestone in placing dual emphasis on custodial and rehabilitation services. In recent years, the scope of correctional work has been expanding to cover community education, which aims to achieve crime prevention at source by further enhancing youngsters’ understanding of criminal acts and their anti-crime awareness.
Embrace the Future
To celebrate the centennial anniversary, the Department joined hands with various sectors of the community to organise a series of celebration activities under the theme of “A Century of Corrections Connecting a Smart Future”. These activities can enable members of the public to gain a better understanding of the correctional services and promote anti-crime messages to the community.
On 12 January 2020, a “Kick-off Ceremony of Celebration Events cum Carnival for 100th Anniversary of CSD” was held at Tai Kwun in Central, where the former Central Police Station Compound, Central Magistracy and the first prison in Hong Kong – Victoria Prison were situated. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the ceremony. Performances at the ceremony and activities at the carnival echoed the theme through the use of innovative and creative elements to demonstrate the evolution of the Department. The ceremony marked the start of a series of celebration events and the turning of a new page in the history of the Department.
Affected by the rampant COVID-19 epidemic, some celebration events planned for 2020 had to be postponed. Subject to the epidemic development, the Department will continue to organise the related celebration events in 2021 as far as practicable, such as the publication of a commemorative photo album, the holding of the “Unsung Hero" Correctional Officer Excellence Award Presentation, and the launching of “Mission in Prison” co-organised by the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project and the Care of Rehabilitated Offenders Association , etc.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiates at the kick-off ceremony.
A dance performance entitled “Transformation of the CSD through 100 years” is presented by correctional officers and dancers at the ceremony.
(From left) The then Director of Immigration, Mr Erick Tsang, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang Ping-keung, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Woo Ying-ming, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang Yi-hoi, and the then Director of Fire Services, Mr Li Kin-yat.
The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Woo Ying-ming (second left) with his predecessors: Mr Sin Yat-kin (first left), Mr Ng Ching-kwok (second right) and Mr Lam Kwok-leung (first right).
Participants of the kick-off ceremony “check-in” in a photo taking booth with 3D special effects.
Correctional officers in old and current uniforms at the kick-off ceremony.
2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the CSD. The CSD invited the media to visit the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum and Stanley Prison, which has the longest history, where they saw some of the oldest facilities, including a washing machine of historic significance, a brass bell made in England in 1895 which was used as a fire alarm, and an old photograph machine used for taking photos of persons in custody during admission.
In addition, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the CSD, the Department worked with the local media to publish a series of feature articles which introduced various types of correctional duties, institutions and facilities, etc. Heads of Institutions and frontline staff in various positions shared unforgettable work experiences and their challenging work behind the scene, enabling readers to get a glimpse of the diversified work portfolio of the CSD.
Physical and Mental Wellbeing
The Comissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Woo Ying-ming, with athletes at the starting point of the 10km Distance Run at the main dam of Plover Cove Reservoir in Tai Po on 11 January 2020.
Mr Woo Ying-ming, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, officiates at the launch ceremony of the running competition.
Devotion to Society
To mark its 100th anniversary and show care for the community, the CSD and the Hong Kong Red Cross co-organised a series of blood donation activities in the first half of 2020 to enable staff members to fulfil their civic responsibility.
Correctional officers in various positions actively participate in blood donation activities.
On 21 January 2020, staff members of the Staff training Institute, new recruits and staff under training as well as correctional officers in Stanley district participated in the blood donation activity.
