The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (24 October) to further strengthen co-operation and affirm the long-term partnership between the CSD and HKMU in education, so as to provide more comprehensive support for persons in custody (PICs) who wish to continue their studies.

The CSD has been committed to providing appropriate rehabilitation programmes and encouraging PICs to pursue further studies. Over the years, the CSD has collaborated with HKMU to promote higher education and self-enhancement learning for PICs. The signing of the MoU will enable PICs who have suitable qualifications to continue pursuing tertiary programmes with more comprehensive support including enhanced financial assistance, credit transfers and programme articulation.

The MoU was signed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, and the President of HKMU, Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, and witnessed by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, and the Council Chairman of HKMU, Ir Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung.

Mr Tang said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along attached great importance to youth development and set out in this year’s Policy Address the direction to facilitate youth development, which includes stepping up assistance to rehabilitate young PICs. The signing of the MoU will not only strengthen the co-operation between the two sides in the education for PICs, but more importantly, will let PICs and rehabilitated offenders know that they have not been abandoned by society, and that they should cherish learning opportunities to pursue education and equip themselves to make contributions to society.

Ir Dr Wong said that HKMU, as the only university to provide distance-learning degree programmes for PICs in Hong Kong, fully agreed with the CSD’s objective to provide diversified rehabilitation programmes and has co-operated with the CSD to provide higher education for PICs for many years.

Ir Dr Wong said that it is not easy for PICs to overcome numerous difficulties to pursue further studies. He expressed the hope that the collaboration can further strengthen the co-operation and work between HKMU and the CSD, enabling PICs to continue their studies according to their interests and abilities, rebuild positive values, strive for progress and equip themselves for future integration into society.