Stanley Prison Inmates Recognized for Academic Achievements at Ceremony, Including First Doctorate Awardee

2025-01-08 17:15 Last Updated At：17:28

Persons in custody at Stanley Prison attain good examination results

Thirty-eight persons in custody (PICs) at Stanley Prison of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (January 8) in recognition of their continuous efforts in pursuing further studies.

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

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

In 2024, a total of 158 PICs at Stanley Prison passed 179 papers with 64 distinctions and credits in various courses and public examinations, covering different subjects including language and literature, English for business, business finance and accounting organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) and Caritas Institute of Community Education.

The 38 PICs who were awarded certificates today passed 67 papers with 36 distinctions and credits. Among them, one PIC was awarded a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies, two were awarded Associate Degrees in General Studies, and one was awarded a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree by the HKMU. The doctorate awardee began the distance learning courses of the HKMU (formerly the Open University of Hong Kong) in 2004 and successfully attained the EdD degree after 20 years of hard work, becoming the first PIC to be awarded a doctorate by a local university. The doctoral degree was conferred on the PIC by the President of the HKMU, Professor Paul Lam, and the Dean of School of Education and Languages of the HKMU, Professor Andy Chin, at the ceremony.

Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), Ms Mandy Tang, said that the CSD has been encouraging PICs to pursue continuing studies and has been collaborating with community members and non-governmental organisations to arrange a variety of rehabilitation programmes for PICs to assist them to turn over a new leaf and equip themselves for reintegration into society. The TWGHs set up the TWGHs Positive Life Education Fund in 2019, which runs for six years, to provide financial assistance to PICs for education and vocational training. She added that the TWGHs will further extend the subsidy scheme for five years to continuously support and collaborate with the CSD in actively promoting rehabilitation work, with a view to building a more stable and harmonious society in a collaborative way.

During the ceremony, a duet performance was staged by PICs with Chinese musical instrument instructors Kong Kin-pan and Yeung Chun-hin, followed by a music performance delivered by a band composed of PICs at Stanley Prison onstage. Moreover, music instructor Eric Monson partnered with PICs to present an a cappella performance at the ceremony.

In the sharing session, the doctorate awardee shared his experience during rehabilitation and conveyed gratitude to his family members for their unwavering support. He also recounted his years of academic pursuits with perseverance and unrelenting efforts, thanking correctional officers for their support and encouragement, as well as for providing resources and assistance throughout his learning journey, enabling him to complete the programme. He expressed hope that his personal experience could encourage PICs to strive for self-improvement and not to give up when facing difficulties.

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

Stanley Prison is a maximum security institution for the detention of male adult remand and convicted PICs.

Nestlé Hong Kong Recalls Additional Infant Formula Over Bacillus Cereus Contamination Concerns

CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.

The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.

Product details are as follows:

Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)

Batch number: 51670742F2

Best-before date: June 16, 2027

Place of Origin: Germany

"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.

Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:

Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)

Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com

WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)

Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink

Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:

Kowloon Services Counter

Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)

Contact number: 3996 8196

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)

Hong Kong Services Counter

Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)

Contact number: 3996 8197

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)

The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.

Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.

Stanley Prison Inmates Recognized for Academic Achievements at Ceremony, Including First Doctorate Awardee

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