Press Release

Shek Pik Prison persons in custody receive academic certificates

     A total of 163 persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison (SPP) were presented with certificates in recognition of their academic achievements at a ceremony today (November 18).

     The 163 persons in custody awarded certificates today had passed 281 papers with 156 distinctions and credits and achieved a total of 615 university credit points. Among them, two persons in custody who attained good academic results were presented with Outstanding Student Award of the Year prizes by the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK). Seven persons in custody were awarded a Master Degree of Business Administration, a Bachelor Degree of Business Administration, an Associate Degree of Business Administration and an Associate Degree of General Studies by OUHK.

     In 2015, a total of 265 persons in custody at SPP have passed 494 papers in various distance learning courses and public examinations organised by OUHK, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and the City and Guilds International Limited.

     The examinations passed covered a variety of subjects including Chinese language, English language, mathematics, economics, business finance, business statistics, business administration, software applications, Putonghua, accounting and book-keeping.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairperson of Yan Oi Tong, Mrs Kimmy Shi, said that apart from protecting public safety, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) rolls out suitable rehabilitation programmes to help persons in custody turn over a new leaf as well as regain hope and direction in their lives. Such an effort is in line with the mission of Yan Oi Tong in promoting a benevolent society.

     She remarked that Yan Oi Tong and the CSD are close partners in fostering offender rehabilitation. The two parties have jointly organised different rehabilitative activities, providing a platform for persons in custody and rehabilitated offenders to showcase their talents. In recent years, Yan Oi Tong has rendered further support to the CSD in producing TV variety shows in order to solicit public acceptance for the reintegration of rehabilitated offenders into the community, thereby building a safe, harmonious and caring society in a collaborative way.

     During the ceremony, representatives of persons in custody joined MedArt volunteers and institutional correctional officers for a musical drama, through which they expressed their determination to make a new start in their lives, and their appreciation for the support of their families, correctional officers and society members.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu, representatives of community organisations, celebrities and families of the persons in custody.

     Situated at 47 Shek Pik Reservoir Road, Lantau Island, SPP is a maximum security institution with a capacity of 426 penal places for male adult persons in custody.

Ends/Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:05

A total of 163 persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison were presented with certificates in recognition of their academic achievements at a ceremony today (November 18). The Chairperson of Yan Oi Tong, Mrs Kimmy Shi (right), is pictured presenting certificates to a person in custody.

During the ceremony, representatives of persons in custody joined MedArt volunteers to perform.