Commissioner, members of the Correctional Services Department, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to take part as the Inspecting Officer in the Annual Inspection of the Correctional Services Department today, which, being the first parade held by the Department since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has a special meaning to all of us.

I am proud to say that the Correctional Services Department is amongst the best correctional institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. It enjoys a great reputation for its high efficiency, well-managed organization as well as the professionalism displayed in its work. These achievements of the Department, coupled with the well-established regulatory mechanism of our legal system, have helped to keep our penal system and correctional services at world-class level.

A major principle upheld by our correctional institutions in prison management is that persons placed in their custody are kept in a dignified manner, taking into account the safety of the public as well as that of individual inmates. The rehabilitation and training programmes designed by various institutions for prisoners all aim at preparing them for reintegration into society upon release and providing them with the best possible opportunities to make a fresh start in life. This is indeed a highly challenging and meaningful task which members of our Correctional Services should pride themselves on.

No account of the Department's work is complete without the mentioning of its remarkable achievements in the Vietnamese migrant issue. The number of Vietnamese migrants remaining in the detention centre in Hong Kong has now dwindled to about one thousand. Since the seventies, staff of the Correctional Services have been playing an active role in tackling the Vietnamese migrant problem. You have done an excellent job in maintaining good order in the Vietnamese migrant detention centres and implementing the Orderly Repatriation Programme. The patience, devotion and high efficiency you demonstrated in your work are highly commendable.

One of our major concerns is the overcrowding situation in prison, which not only affects the quality of our correctional services but also adds to the working pressure of our correctional staff. We have already worked out a package of comprehensive measures to improve the overcrowding situation. In the short run, we plan to redevelop some of the existing facilities, such as the Stanley Prison and the Tai Lam Correctional Institution, with a view to providing more accommodation for the imprisonment of offenders to meet the pressing needs of our correctional services. In the long run, a new prison complex will be built at Yam O. I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are addressing the issue in a proactive way and the situation will be improved gradually.

From what I have heard and seen today, I have every confidence that each and every member of the correctional force will keep up with your high standard of professionalism, personal conduct and discipline as you continue your service to Hong Kong in future. You will no doubt serve the community well and carry forward the fine tradition of the Correctional Services Department.

Thank you.