Press Release

Forum held to discuss strategic use of community's "positive energy" to support rehabilitation work

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) held the "NGO Forum cum Outstanding NGO Volunteer Award Presentation Ceremony" today (December 8), at which participants discussed a more appropriate and strategic use of community resources to facilitate offender rehabilitation through knowledge sharing and practical experience exchange.

     Officiating at the forum, the President of Tung Sin Tan, Mr Chung Man-chai, said that "community support" could greatly increase the determination of persons in custody and rehabilitated persons to turn over a new leaf. He said he believed that all attending non-government organisations (NGOs) would continue to collaborate with the CSD and show support to persons in custody and rehabilitated persons, imbuing them with bountiful positive energy.

     The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu, said that in addition to the provision of safe custody and appropriate rehabilitation programmes by the CSD, successful rehabilitation also hinges on the determination of persons in custody to make a fresh start, as well as community support. He noted that NGOs have long been working proactively with the CSD to provide a wide range of activities for persons in custody and rehabilitated persons, and have contributed greatly to offender rehabilitation. The CSD would continue to enhance its collaboration with NGOs or individuals sharing the same objective of supporting offender rehabilitation in a strategic manner, so as to engage further community support and help build a safer and more inclusive society in Hong Kong.

     The Chairman of the Council of CityU, Mr Herman Hu, said that CityU and the CSD have established a successful partnership to jointly support offender rehabilitation. The partnership would continue to strengthen and develop, not only in terms of co-organising the Forum but also towards other projects such as research to enhance rehabilitative programmes, providing voluntary services at correctional institutions and arranging for students to visit those institutions. He noted that the Forum brings together professionals from various sectors as well as NGO representatives and volunteers, which would without doubt serve to strengthen communication and the optimisation of community resources to support rehabilitated persons.

     Around 200 NGO representatives, academics, volunteers and CSD staff attended the Forum. NGO representatives held interactive sharing sessions on the topic of helping rehabilitated persons live a positive life by utilising community support. Winning essays from the "'I Thank' Persons in Custody Writing Competition 2015", one of the activities of "Thank-you NGO Month", were displayed outside the forum venue to allow persons in custody to thanks those who have helped them through writing.

     Mr Yau presented the Commissioner of Correctional Services Partnership Award to Dr John Tse, Associate Professor of the CityU's Department of Applied Social Sciences, for his long-term co-operation with the CSD and his achievements in facilitating offender rehabilitation, and particularly for helping to launch "A Taste of University" and "The Rainbow Reading Award Scheme" under the "Continuing Education for Offenders" project in the past decade. Fifty-two NGO volunteers were also awarded commendations in recognition of their voluntary work with persons in custody during the previous year.

Ends/Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:25

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) held the NGO Forum cum Outstanding NGO Volunteer Award Presentation Ceremony today (December 8). The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu (left), the President of Tung Sin Tan, Mr Chung Man-chai (centre), and the Chairman of the Council of CityU, Mr Herman Hu, are pictured officiating at the opening ceremony.

Around 200 NGO representatives, academics, volunteers and CSD staff attended the Forum. NGO representatives held interactive sharing sessions on the topic of helping rehabilitated persons live a positive life by utilising community support.