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 2024 had its opening ceremony on 5 July afternoon at the Convention Hall of the Macao Science Center. Lasting till 7 July, the exhibition serves as a platform to showcase inmates and juvenile delinquents’ learning achievements and determination to start afresh, raising support and acceptance from the society toward their rehabilitation.

 

The theme of the exhibition this year – “Showcasing Talents, Fostering Inclusiveness, Rebuilding Lives” – conveys the message that inmates and juvenile delinquents will be able to undergo self-reformation, unleash their talents and rebuild their lives provided that they have the support, encouragement and acceptance from different sectors of society. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was jointly officiated by: Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak; Prosecutor General of the Public Prosecutions Office, Ip Son Sang; Director General of the Macao Customs, Vong Man Chong; Chairman of the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Maria da Fonseca Tavares; Director of the Correctional Services Bureau, Cheng Fong Meng; Curator of the Macao Science Center, Sio Hon Pan; General Manager of China Legal Service (Macau), Liu Fuchen; Party Committee Member and Deputy Director-General of the Prison Administration of Guangdong Province, Chen Qiangyi; Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Bureau, Tang Yuk Wa; Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Wong Ka Ki; Acting General Manager of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, Koo Wai Lung; Superintendent of Tanah Merah Prison (Prison School) of the Singapore Prison Service, Leong Chee Ming; as well as Deputy Director of Skills Division of Yellow Ribbon Singapore, Leslie Jin.

 

In his address at the ceremony, Director Cheng Fong Meng mentioned that as an important part of the judicial system of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Correctional Services Bureau will, under the leadership of the Secretary for Security, dedicate itself to thoroughly implementing the policies of the SAR Government and the security sector, steadfastly fulfilling the missions of corrections, effectively guaranteeing the safety and stability of correctional environments, as well as gathering strengths from different sectors to facilitate the self-reformation and social reintegration of inmates and juvenile delinquents on personal, familial and social levels. Director Cheng then stressed that correctional work takes a long and arduous course and the Bureau will stay true to its original aspirations and beliefs and relentlessly elevate the professionalism and management standards of its work; it will also gather and utilize the community power to develop more effective and quality social rehabilitation services for inmates and juvenile delinquents so that the responsibilities of corrections can be fulfilled more effectively and efficiently and the core mission of guaranteeing social peace and the life and property of members of the public can be accomplished. As the token of heartfelt gratitude, Director Cheng Fong Meng also presented at the ceremony a certificate of appreciation to each of the 20 organizations and entities that had provided long-term support and assistances to our correctional services. 

 

The exhibition this year displays and sells 380 types and over 8,000 pieces of handicrafts, each personally made by inmates or juvenile delinquents. Electronic display boards are set up at the venue, showing the various offender rehabilitation services offered by the Correctional Services Bureau, the Education and Youth Development Bureau and the Social Welfare Bureau. In addition, at our invitation, Caritas Macau, the Macau Christian Prison Ministries, the Christian New Life Fellowship in Macau, the Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau, the General Volunteers Association of Macao, the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau, and the University of Saint Joseph have set up booth games at the Heart-shaped Tree Square, where they will spend quality time together with members of the public as they help promote the message of care and inclusiveness. Shiny, our care buddy, will also show up at the venue to have fun with the public and call on different sectors of society to uphold the spirit of love and care and show support and acceptance to inmates and juvenile delinquents on their social reintegration journey. 

 

This year’s exhibition will be held on 5 to 7 July. The opening times will be from 15:00 to 18:00 on 5 July and from 10:00 to 18:00 on 6 and 7 July. Admission to the exhibition is free. With the game point card or the receipt of the purchase made on site, visitors can redeem a sticker that grants a free entry to the Exhibition Center of the Macao Science Center and the “Discover the Hall of Mental Cultivation” Exhibition. All members of the public are welcome to support us at the exhibition.