With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, the Chinese New Year Party for Inmates is once again jointly held by the Correctional Services Bureau and Caritas Macau during 15 to 21 January at Coloane Prison. Inmates are arranged to attend the party in groups, and the aim of the party is to enable inmates to experience the love and support from society amid the festive atmosphere. 

 

Representatives from multiple government departments and social service organizations attended the first session of the party on invitation on 15 January morning, with the eye-dotting ceremony jointly officiated by Secretary for Security Wong Sio Cak, Director of the Correctional Services Bureau Cheng Fong Meng, and Secretary General of Caritas Macau Pun Chi Meng. Amid the rhythms of the gongs and drums that marked the official start of the Chinese New Year Party’s first session, the series of performances by inmates began, including a lion dance, a multi-language medley of classics, a flag dance, a Chinese martial arts demonstration, an umbrella dance, and a performance of self-composed songs. The wonderful performances fully displayed inmates’ talents and garnered rounds of heated applause from the audience. The first session of the party came to a successful conclusion in a warm and joyous chorus of a song.

 

The Correctional Services Bureau hoped the party could enable inmates to showcase their many talents and the rehearsal and performance process could help bring their personal creativity and strengths into full play, boosting their sense of achievement and strengthening their confidence to turn over a new leaf. The Correctional Services Bureau would like to thank Caritas Macau for sponsoring the event and for their continued support to our social rehabilitation services over the years.

 

Other guests of the event included: Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service Leong Man Cheong; Director General of the Macao Customs Adriano Marques Ho; President of the Court of Second Instance Tong Hio Fong; President of the Court of First Instance Io Weng San; Assistant Prosecutor General of the Public Prosecutions Office Kuok Un Man; Acting Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security Chang Cheong; members of the Security Forces and Departments Discipline Supervision Committee Lau Kam Ling and Mak Soi Kun, leaders and management personnel of related government departments, as well as representatives from a number of entities, non-profit associations, and charities.