Press Release

CSD holds video conferencing job fair for rehabilitated offenders

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held the Job Fair for Rehabilitated Offenders 2015 for persons in custody today (December 4). During the event, the correctional institutions and the fair venue at Quarry Bay Community Hall were connected by computer video conferencing technology for employers to conduct interviews.

     The job fair aimed to provide a platform for persons in custody who will be released soon to look for jobs, thus helping them to reintegrate into society quickly after release.

     The job fair was jointly organised by the CSD, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the opening of the job fair and launched the event together with the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu; the President of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Dr Eddy Li; and the Chairman of Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Job Fair for Rehabilitated Offenders, Dr Ho Wai-kuen.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the job fair, Mr Cheung said that the job fair promoted co-operation across different sectors in offering job opportunities for rehabilitated persons. In addition, he highly commended the CSD for taking a proactive approach in providing market-oriented vocational training courses in collaboration with professional training bodies for persons in custody. The courses cover logistics, food and beverage, information technology and beauty care, and this can help persons in custody to acquire skills to strengthen their capability for job placement after release and reintegration into society.

     Dr Li said that he was delighted to assist rehabilitated offenders in finding job opportunities and to help boost corporate social responsibility for social stability. He appealed to employers from various sectors to continue to support the CSD's rehabilitation work by giving opportunities to rehabilitated offenders and raising their confidence, and encouraged rehabilitated offenders to seize the opportunity to contribute to a safer community.

     Dr Ho said the job fair could help persons in custody live as law-abiding citizens by assisting them to enter the workforce right after release. He added that public acceptance of rehabilitated offenders is essential in building the safety of society.

     Thirty business firms from more than 10 trades including the construction, retail, catering, electrical and mechanical engineering, warehousing and transportation industries participated at the fair, providing more than 1,000 job vacancies.

     The vacancies included bar bender and fixer, kitchen assistant, waiter, environmental cleaner, clerk, salesman, warehouse keeper, electrical and plumbing apprentice/worker, driver and exhibition booth helper.

     More than 200 persons in custody from 20 institutions applied for these jobs today.

Ends/Friday, December 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:09

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, speaks at the Job Fair for Rehabilitated Offenders 2015 today (December 4).

Mr Cheung (second left); the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu (first left); the President of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Dr Eddy Li (second right); and the Chairman of Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Job Fair for Rehabilitated Offenders, Dr Ho Wai-kuen (first right), officiate at the opening of the job fair.

Mr Cheung (front) tours the job fair.

Mr Cheung (third right) tours the job fair.

An employer (first right) and a rehabilitated offender (third right) who has been hired as an employee share their experiences.

The recruitment expo provided a platform for rehabilitated offenders to look for jobs, thus helping them to reintegrate into society quickly after release.