The United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) Vice-Chairman Justice P N Bhagwati Thursday congratulated the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department's (CSD) efforts in the rehabilitation of young female offenders.

After visiting CSD's Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution with another HRC member Christine Chanet, Bhagwati was delighted to visit the training restaurant at the institution and said the food was excellent and the manner in which it was served was highly professional.

"This shows what talent lies in these young girls whom society has neglected and who have become unfortunate victims of circumstances leading to crime," Bhagwati said.

"I congratulate the authorities for bringing out their talent and making them useful members of the society," he said.

Chanet said she was happy to meet the staff and the inmates of the institution in such a good atmosphere, a confident and humane one.

While wishing the young girls a good future, Chanet said: "They have a whole life in front of them and nothing is wasted as long as a good and humane re-education is given to them."

Accompanied by Ng Ching-kwok, commissioner of correctional services of Hong Kong, the HRC members were first briefed on the various correctional programs for young offenders administered by CSD with the majority of which followed by a period of supervision after release, including the training center and detention center programs.

They also noted that there is a special drug addiction treatment program for addicts under the age of 21 and that young persons may also be sentenced to prisons to undergo a special rehabilitative program.

After the briefing, the visitors toured the classrooms, multi-media center, computer room, beauty salon and garment workshop and had lunch at the training restaurant.

(Xinhua 09/08/2001)