Press Release

CSD issues statement

     In response to media enquiries regarding the arrangement for receiving books by persons in custody (PICs) from their relatives and friends, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) issued the following statement today (August 20):

     The CSD encourages PICs to make good use of their leisure time to enrich their lives and to enhance personal development through reading and further study. Apart from borrowing books from institution libraries, PICs may receive from their relatives and friends reading materials that meet the security requirements. Due to security and storage considerations, the CSD restricts the number of reading materials provided by relatives and friends to six per month for each PIC, with the exception of devotional books.

     The CSD also encourages PICs to enrich their knowledge and take various types of self-learning or distance learning courses in order to obtain accredited qualifications which would help facilitate their reintegration into society upon release. Throughout their learning PICs will be provided with study guidance, and requests for additional reference books and learning materials will be approved on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the Department also renders assistance to PICs in various ways including the collection of learning materials, arrangement of tutorials from relevant universities, application of financial aids for PICs with difficulties and more. In 2014, there were about 1 200 enrollments in various types of qualified public examination from PICs. Since 2010, a total of four Masters Degrees and eight Bachelors Degrees have been obtained by 10 PICs.

Ends/Thursday, August 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:44