To thoroughly implement the three innovative policing philosophies of “proactive policing”, “community policing” and “proximity policing” advocated by the security authorities, continually strengthen the communication and cooperation with the community, promote correctional services, and strive for more support to offender rehabilitation, the management of the Correctional Services Bureau, led by Director Cheng Fong Meng, Director of Coloane Prison Ng Ioi On and Director of Youth Correctional Institution Yu Pui Lam, visited the Women’s General Association of Macau on 30 May, for a meeting themed “Rebirth and Community Connection” with members of the Association. The meeting served as an opportunity to hear and collect public opinions and suggestions toward our correctional services, so as to further develop support systems in the community and promote harmony.

Under the guidance of the Women’s General Association of Macau’s directors and supervisors, including the President of its Board of Directors, Ms. Lam Un Mui, our personnel toured the facilities of the Association’s Integrated Services Building, learning of the Association’s development and latest updates, as well as the social services launched by the centers and entities subordinate to the Association. Subsequently, both parties had a meeting which began with Director Cheng Fong Meng expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Association for its long-term support, assistance and cooperation for our rehabilitation services and giving updates about the Bureau’s development and challenges. As mentioned by Director Cheng, due to the close relationship between correctional services and the society, it requires enhanced engagement and support from the community to more holistically and effectively assist inmates and juvenile delinquents in rejoining the society, reduce recidivism, and protect social harmony, lives and property. Therefore, the Bureau hoped for further exchange and cooperation with the Association on building a harmonious and peaceful Macao.

President of the Association’s Board of Directors, Ms. Lam Un Mui, highlighted the Association’s unwavering support to female inmates over the past 17 years--they made periodical visits to female inmates, hoping to increase their determination to reform themselves and make a sooner return home. President Lam went on to convey their wish to continue jointly launching projects with the Bureau under the existing mode of cooperation. Attendees of both parties then explored topics including social rehabilitation-related legal knowledge promotion, psychological counseling and family services, with representatives of the Association providing valuable opinions on promotion campaigns in the community. The two parties also confirmed a number of collaboration projects, including the organization of the visit of the Association’s legal knowledge promotion volunteer team to the Prison to educate inmates on the law, and the visit of parents to correctional facilities to interact with juvenile delinquents and young inmates and learn of the reasons behind their crimes, so that the parents could give timely encouragement and care to their children, more effectively preventing juvenile delinquency. The exchange yielded positive results.

In the future, under the guiding principles of the three innovative policing philosophies, the Correctional Services Bureau will continue to actively promote public awareness, understanding and support of correctional services in the community and reinforce exchange and cooperation with different sectors of society, so as to raise the efficacy of our correctional services.

Also attending this meeting included: from the Women’s General Association of Macau--Vice-president of the Board of Directors and Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Chong Ling Ling; Vice-president of the Board of Directors, Ms. Luo Ping; and Vice-president of the Board of Supervisors, Ms. Yeung Suk Yin. From the Correctional Services Bureau--Head of Public Relations and Information Division, Ms. Vong Ka Nun; Head of Security and Vigilance Division, Mr. Lam Kam Sau; and Head of Social Assistance, Education and Training Division, Ms. Ho Sio Mei, etc.