Eighty-five inmates at Lai Sun Correctional Institution Vocational Training Centre have been presented 175 certificates for vocational training courses.

Five ex-prisoners were awarded the 2007 LCCI International Qualifications Medallion Prize - two gold and three silver.

The institution's Superintendent Wong Wai-hung said the inmates obtained 459 certificates in the public examination in the past year, of which more than 200 were passed with distinctions or credits. The overall pass rate was 94%.

He said inmates are encouraged to participate in public examinations to enhance their employability and reintegrate into the community.