Press Release

Re-opening ceremony for CSD Green Haven Scheme Resources Centre

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (April 21) held a re-opening ceremony for its Green Haven Scheme Resources Centre on Hei Ling Chau after its renovation and extension. The centre is used for anti-drug education.

     During the ceremony, the officiating guest, member of the Fight Crime Committee, Dr John Tse Wing-ling, led 40 students from the Kowloon Technical School participating in the Green Haven Scheme to take an oath to become a "Rehabilitation Pioneer". They vowed that they would stay away from drugs and support rehabilitated offenders' re-integration into society.

     An important part of the Green Haven Scheme, the Green Haven Scheme Resources Centre gives participants an insight into the detrimental effects of drug abuse. As the centre re-opens, exhibition cabinets containing mock drug and take-in instruments have been added to show the detrimental effects of drug abuse in a lively and multimedia form and enhance the effectiveness of anti-drug education. New exhibition panels and exhibits have also been installed to comprehensively introduce rehabilitative services provided by CSD. 

     The Green Haven Scheme, launched by CSD in 2001 on Hei Ling Chau, aims to promote anti-drug messages and the importance of environmental protection among students and young people. Participants meet with young inmates of Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre to learn the detrimental effects of drug abuse. So far, the department has arranged 306 visits by more than 6 766 students and young people as well as 951 social workers and teachers. At the end of each visit, all participants have to take an oath in a simple ceremony to become a "Rehabilitation Pioneer".

     The Green Haven Scheme has become a main part of the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP) since September 2008. Under the RPP's Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme, students and young people visit correctional institutions and meet with inmates to share experiences and learn the consequences of committing crimes. This can help enhance the effectiveness of anti-crime education. Up to the beginning of 2011, a total of 50 000 students and young people had joined the Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme.

     In addition, staff under the RPP pay visits to schools and organisations to brief students and young people on Hong Kong's criminal justice system as well as CSD's custodial and rehabilitative services. The visits aim at arousing students and young people's awareness of the serious consequences of committing crimes and abusing drugs. The project also includes visits by students and young people to Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum to foster their understanding of the development of correctional services, particularly the rehabilitative services and various publicity activities calling for support of offender rehabilitation.

Ends/Thursday, April 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:16

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A new exhibition cabinet in the Green Haven Scheme Resources Centre shows mock drug and alcohol items with explanations of their detrimental effects. 

Member of the Fight Crime Committee, Dr John Tse Wing-ling (second right), talks with students about their participation in the Green Haven Scheme. Looking on is the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Sin Yat-kin.