99 Inmates Honored for Academic Achievements at Shek Pik Prison Ceremony

Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results

​A total of 99 persons in custody (PICs) at Shek Pik Prison (SPP) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (November 27) in recognition of their study efforts and academic achievements.

In the past year, a total of 230 PICs at SPP passed 381 papers with 221 distinctions and credits in various distance learning courses and public examinations organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and Caritas Institute of Community Education, covering subjects including Chinese language, English language, mathematics, economics, business finance, business statistics, business administration, Putonghua, accounting and book-keeping. The 99 PICs who were awarded certificates today had passed 149 papers with 109 distinctions and credits. Among them, two PICs were awarded Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration, two were awarded Bachelor's Degrees in General Studies, one was awarded a Bachelor's Degree in Language and Translation, and two were awarded Associate Degrees in General Studies by the HKMU.

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 PICs to seek continuous improvement with perseverance and build a solid foundation for their rehabilitation.

During the ceremony, volunteer tutor and harmonicist Ramiel Leung partnered with PICs to stage a harmonica performance. In addition, singer Jade Kwan, together with a band composed of PICs at SPP, performed music onstage to convey gratitude to their family members as well as community members and organisations that have helped them rehabilitate.

In the sharing session, a PIC shared his experience in the course of pursuing his studies with perseverance and rehabilitation, and expressed gratitude for his family members' unwavering support.

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

Situated on Lantau Island, SPP is a maximum security institution with a capacity of 426 penal places for male adult PICs.

Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS announces test results of targeted surveillance on nutrition labelling of canned meat

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 27) released the test results of a targeted food surveillance project on the nutrition labelling of canned meat. Among 40 samples tested, two samples were found with saturated fatty acids or sugars content inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, while one sample was found with the heading of the list of ingredients not properly declared on the food label. The remaining 37 samples passed the test.

"The CFS collected samples from different retail outlets for the targeted food surveillance project. Tests were conducted to check if the energy content and specified nutrient content (total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and more) are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. The food labels were also checked to see if they comply with relevant requirements under the laws," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has announced the irregularities on the actual nutrient contents earlier. The vendors concerned have also stopped selling the relevant batch of the affected products. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require all applicable prepackaged foods to list the ingredients and the content of energy plus seven core nutrients, namely carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars, and regulate any associated nutrition claims. The list of ingredients of all prepackaged food shall also be preceded by an appropriate heading consisting of the words "ingredients", "composition", and "contents" or words of similar meaning.

Nutrition labelling can assist consumers in making informed food choices, encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods, and regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims. According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), if any person falsely describes food or misleads as to the nature, substance or quality of the food on a label of the food sold by him or her, he or she shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on other food samples to check if their energy content and specified nutrient content are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, and the results will be released in due course. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law, and urged members of the public to pay attention to the information on nutrition labels when purchasing food to make informed food choices to achieve a balanced diet and stay healthy.