Press Release

Young persons in custody at Pik Uk Correctional Institution attain good examination results

Young persons in custody (PICs) at Pik Uk Correctional Institution (PUCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (December 7) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.

In the past year, a total of 109 PICs sat various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), the City and Guilds International examinations, the Cambridge English Examinations and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Cantonese Cooking, Multimedia Design, Building Services as well as Laundry Skill organised by the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong; Christian Action; the Construction Industry Council and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 12 merits out of 189 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 32 PICs were presented with 91 certificates, of which two merits were attained.

Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Synergy for Rehabilitation Association (CSRA), Dr Cook Chiu, said that the CSRA is fully supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD and set up the Community Synergy for Rehabilitation Association - Perseverance Education Fund in November 2022 with the aim of supporting needy PICs to pursue continuing education and vocational training. He encouraged the young PICs to strive for continuous improvement with perseverance and attain excellent results.

During the ceremony, the PICs staged music performance with Chinese drums and western musical instruments to demonstrate their learning outcomes and express gratitude to their families and correctional officers for their support in the course of rehabilitation. Sichuan opera face-changing master Hathor Wai also presented a face-changing performance by using the hand-painted masks which were made by the PICs earlier in a workshop, featuring the transformation of the PICs at different stages and their positive changes during their training at the institution.

In the sharing session, a PIC band member expressed his gratitude to his family members for their continuous support. To demonstrate his determination to embrace the future with an optimistic attitude, he invited his father, who is passionate about music, to join him onstage for a band performance, creating a heartwarming and touching scene at the ceremony. Another PIC thanked correctional officers for their patience and guidance. He was also grateful to his family for their encouragement, enabling him to attain good results in the HKDSE. His mother also shared the happiness of witnessing the positive changes of her son and appreciated the efforts of correctional officers which have made her realise the significance of rehabilitation work.

Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.

PUCI has a capacity of 385 penal places for young male remand and sentenced PICs. The department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for the young persons in custody to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:45