Ethics College Graduates Transforming Lives: Congratulations to First Batch of PIC Students

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held the first graduation ceremony of the Ethics College at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution today (August 8) to present graduation certificates to persons in custody (PICs) who have completed the Diploma of Applied Education programme.

All of the first batch of 75 PIC students of the Ethics College, including 60 male PICs from Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and 15 female PICs from Lo Wu Correctional Institution, have successfully completed the programme.

Addressing the graduation ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the graduates. He said that the successful graduation of PIC students not only shows the achievement of their hard work, but is also a demonstration of their perseverance in self-improvement and determination to transform themselves, and of their resolute belief in preparing for a new life. He encouraged the graduates to maintain a proactive and positive attitude, whether they continue their studies or find employment in the future, so as to meet challenges ahead, embark on a new chapter in life and make contributions to society.

Mr Tang thanked various sectors of society for their support to the Ethics College, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for supporting the College's work; the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education for providing the programme and arranging teachers to teach at the College; and various organisations and volunteers for offering assistance to the PIC students.

Mr Tang also praised CSD staff for their efforts not only to organise study and career planning talks and extra-curricular activities covering physical education and arts, Chinese history and culture, and national education but also for setting up a flag-raising team at the College to enhance students' national identity and foster their whole-person development.

He said that the CSD will continue to provide whole-person education and courses for the second batch of 75 PIC students, and will also explore the introduction of courses for further studies to increase the upward mobility opportunities of PICs after their reintegration to society.

Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Ms Anita Fung said in the ceremony that she was pleased to see that the PIC students not only could acquire academic knowledge and practical skills, but also develop a good character and positive values during the learning process to prepare themselves for reintegrating into society. She hoped that the PIC students will maintain their enthusiasm for learning, strive for self-enhancement and make contributions to the country and Hong Kong in their future work and life, in line with the Jockey Club's commitment to acting continuously for the betterment of society.

The Council Chairman of the HKMU, Dr Conrad Wong, said that the name of the Ethics College reflects the education philosophy of the HKMU. He hoped that the PIC students could establish virtues, meritorious services and good reputations, and become role models for others in society. Through the programme, the HKMU provides diversified learning pathways to help PIC students acquire various skills for catching up in social development, obtaining academic qualifications for employment or further studies, and contributing to society in future.

In a sharing session, PIC students thanked their family members and correctional officers for their support and encouragement, which have reinforced their determination to make positive changes and successfully complete the programme.

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Ethics College holds first graduation ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

September 2024 issue of "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" now available

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (September 16) the September 2024 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS).

Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains two feature articles entitled "Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023" and "Statistics on Sectoral Concentration". Statistics presented in the "Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023" article are based on the data source from the Social Welfare Department.

"Statistics on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, 2013 to 2023"

According to the data source from the Social Welfare Department, the total number of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) cases has decreased gradually at an average rate of 2.6% per annum in the past decade. The number of cases fell from about 260 000 as at end 2013 to about 200 000 as at end 2023. Larger decreases were noted in low-earnings cases (-15.9% per annum on average) and single parent cases (-3.5% per annum on average). There were 273 941 CSSA recipients as at end 2023, representing a drop of 30.6% when compared with end 2013.

This feature article describes the major changes in the number of CSSA cases and recipients during the period from 2013 to 2023.

For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Research and Statistics Section of the Social Welfare Department (Tel: 2892 5225; email: rsenq@swd.gov.hk).

"Statistics on Sectoral Concentration"

A wide range of statistical indicators can be compiled from the results of the Annual Survey of Economic Activities conducted by the Census and Statistics Department for analysing the business situation and performance of various economic sectors in Hong Kong. Among others, statistics on sectoral concentration can throw light on the extent of business concentration within individual sectors.

This feature article analyses the extent of business concentration in selected economic sectors of Hong Kong by making reference to the Concentration Ratios and Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices compiled in terms of business receipts in 2021 and 2022. It is an update of similar articles on the same subject published in preceding years.

For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7398; email: asw@censtatd.gov.hk).

Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).

Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).