Press Release

Persons in custody at Stanley Prison attain good examination results

​Forty-eight persons in custody (PICs) at Stanley Prison of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (January 31) in recognition of their continuous efforts in pursuing further studies.

In 2023, a total of 140 PICs at Stanley Prison passed 158 papers with 71 distinctions and credits in various academic courses and public examinations covering different subjects, including language and literature, English for business, business finance, bookkeeping and accounting organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Caritas Institute of Community Education. The 48 PICs who were awarded certificates today passed 64 papers with 50 distinctions and credits. Among them, one PIC was awarded a Master's Degree in Education, three were awarded Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration, one was awarded an Associate Degree in Chinese Language and Literature, and two were awarded Associate Degrees in General Studies by the HKMU.

Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Care of Rehabilitated Offenders Association (CROA), Mr Yu Che-fan, said that the CSD has been encouraging PICs to pursue continuing studies. A variety of rehabilitation programmes have also been conducted in collaboration with community members and non-governmental organisations to assist PICs to turn over a new leaf and equip themselves for their reintegration into society. The CROA is fully supportive of the CSD's rehabilitation and community education work, and it has donated more than $18 million over the past years to subsidise PICs' education and various programmes, such as the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project, so as to promote the rehabilitation of PICs and build a safer and harmonious society in a collaborative way.

During the ceremony, an erhu music performance was staged by PICs with volunteer tutors, erhuist Chu Wan-pin and member of the Hong Kong Juvenile and Youth Chinese Classical Orchestra Kong Kin-pan. Moreover, a band composed of PICs at Stanley Prison, together with MedArt volunteers, delivered a music performance onstage. In the sharing session, three PICs shared their experiences in the course of rehabilitation, including the heavy price they have paid for committing crime. They thanked their family members for their unwavering support which has reinforced their determination to rehabilitate.

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

Stanley Prison is a maximum security institution for the detention of male adult remand and convicted PICs.

Ends/Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Issued at HKT 17:30