Mr Kelvin Pang Sung-yuen, succeeded Mr Benny Ng Ching-kwok as Commissioner of Correctional Services in Hong Kong on January 1. Mr Ng, who became Commissioner in May 1999, started end-of-agreement leave on the same day.
Mr Pang joined the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (then known as Prisons Department) as an Officer in 1971 and rose through the ranks to become Assistant Commissioner in 1994 and Deputy Commissioner in February 2000.
Mr Pang has worked in various formations of the Department and has a wide range of frontline and administrative experiences. He has witnessed and personally involved in the many fundamental changes in correctional work in Hong Kong over the past some 20 years.
He was the first Assistant Commissioner took charge of the Rehabilitation Division set up in 1998 to give directives and formulate strategies for the long-term development of rehabilitative services for inmates and prisoners.
Mr Pang said the change of leadership of the Department would not affect Hong Kong’s role in the APCCA. “I fully share the same sense of purpose and dedication other members have for the APCCA. The Hong Kong Correctional Services will continue to give full support to the APCCA and, being the Fund Administrator and one arm of the APCCA Secretariat, serve the grouping with commitment,” he said.
Describing the holding of the 23rd APCCA in Hong Kong this December as an honour to the Hong Kong Correctional Services, Mr Pang said: “To play host to the annual meeting at a time when the government is calling for cost-cutting, I sense a great challenge ahead of me and my staff. We will make the best use of available resources to make the conference a success.”
(Photo caption: Mr Kelvin Pang Sung-yuen (right), newly-appointed Commissioner of Correctional Services in Hong Kong, presents a souvenir to the outgoing Commissioner, Mr Benny Ng Ching-kwok, at a gathering.)
Caption:
Mr Kelvin Pang Sung-Yuen (right) appointed Commissioner of Correctional Services in Hong Kong, presents a souvenir to the outgoing Commissioner, Mr Benny Ng.