Organized by the Correctional Services Bureau and the Macao Science Center and in association with the Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Social Welfare Bureau, the Inmates and Juvenile Delinquents’ Handicraft Exhibition 2023 had its opening ceremony on 28 July at the Convention Center of the Macao Science Center. Lasting till 30 July, the exhibition serves as a platform to showcase inmates and juvenile delinquents’ achievements from learning, raising attention, support and acceptance from the society toward offender rehabilitation. 

 

The theme of the exhibition this year – “Showcasing Talents, Fostering Inclusiveness, Rebuilding Lives” – conveys the message that inmates and juvenile delinquents will thrive like green leaves and sprouts under the sun provided that they have the care, support and encouragement from society. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was jointly officiated by:  Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak; Deputy Director of the Police Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Wang Qianjin; Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, Leong Man Cheong; Director General of the Macao Customs, Vong Man Chong; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Cheong Ioc Ieng; Director of the Correctional Services Bureau, Cheng Fong Meng; Director of the Social Welfare Bureau, Hon Wai; Curator of the Macao Science Center, Sio Hon Pan; General Manager of China Legal Service (Macau), Jia Liqun; Commissioner of Hong Kong Correctional Services, Wong Kwok-hing; Commander (Cluster C), Singapore Prison Service, Ricky Eu Kok Keong; Senior Assistant Director, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, Elric Toh Wee Leong; as well as Acting Division Head of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Lam Ka Seng.

 

In his address at the ceremony, Director Cheng Fong Meng mentioned that as an important part of the Macao SAR’s judicial system, the Correctional Services Bureau will steadfastly fulfill its missions of providing supervision and detention services both punitive and educational, and of facilitating inmates and juvenile delinquents’ self-reformation and rehabilitation on personal, familial and social levels through active collaborations with relevant government departments and non-profit organizations. Correctional services take a long and arduous course. Our entire staff will stay true to our original aspirations and remain devoted to our causes, while continuing to thoroughly implement the overall policy objectives of the SAR Government and effectively carry out the law enforcement philosophies of “proactive policing, community policing and proximity policing”. We will also continue to uphold integrity and the innovative spirit as we strive to push forward our work, gather and develop more community power, assist inmates and juvenile delinquents in their social reintegration, reduce the recidivism rate, and protect the enduring peace and stability of the society in Macao.

 

The exhibition this year displays and sells over 7,000 handicrafts, each personally made by inmates or juvenile delinquents. Also featured at the exhibition venue include: selected words of encouragement from the public toward offender rehabilitation from the “Heartfelt Words of Encouragement to Offenders” event previously held; electronic display boards showing the various offender rehabilitation services offered by the Correctional Services Bureau, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Social Welfare Bureau; as well as booth games, a DIY wrapping station and a photo area that promote the message of love and care and add to the joyful atmosphere of the event. The Correctional Services Bureau’s care buddy, Shiny, will make an appearance at the venue to call on the public to show love and care to inmates and juvenile delinquents and support and accept their social reintegration. 

 

The “online sales platform of inmates and juvenile delinquents’ handicrafts” was also launched on the same day. On the permanent online platform, all the products made by inmates and juvenile delinquents will be available for purchase. Information such as the vocational training of inmates and juvenile delinquents and the latest updates on correctional services will also be provided on the platform. All proceeds from the exhibition and the online sales platform will go to the Correctional Services Fund and be used on the efforts to facilitate the social rehabilitation of inmates and juvenile delinquents.

 

This year’s exhibition will be held on 28 to 30 July. The opening times will be from 13:00 to 18:00 on 28 July and 10:00 to 18:00 on 29 and 30 July. Admission to the exhibition is free and individuals having made a purchase will be granted a free entry to the Exhibition Center of the Science Center. Members of the public are welcome for a visit to show support to offender rehabilitation.