Expert experience: Robert McGrath, Clinical Director of the Vermont Treatment Programme for Sexual Abusers in the US, speaks at the seminar to explore strategies in the management of sex offenders.

More than 200 participants have attended a seminar to explore strategies in the management of sex offenders.

Assistant Commissioner of Correctional Services (Rehabilitation) Lee Sheung today said the seminar provided a platform for professionals in Hong Kong and neighbouring regions to exchange experience and gave fresh impetus to the rehabilitation of sex offenders.

"With such multi-disciplinary and interactive participants sharing experience, the seminar bears fruit on the development of sex offender management and generates useful insights into the rehabilitation of offenders as a whole," Mr Lee said.

Held in Hong Kong from February 9 to 11, the seminar attracted more than 200 representatives from Singapore, Malaysia, Beijing, Guangdong, Guizhou, Macau and Hong Kong.

Speakers' views

Guest speaker Robert McGrath, Clinical Director of the Vermont Treatment Programme for Sexual Abusers in the US, gave an overview of international practices guiding rehabilitation and management of sex offenders.

Chinese University Department of Psychology Prof Fanny Cheung said she was pleased to see the remarkable achievement in the rehabilitative services for offenders in the past decade.

"While more public attention has been placed on the legal framework, the quality custodial and rehabilitative services for the treatment of sex offenders in correctional institutions as well as the enhancement of support and services for sex offenders in the community are of paramount importance in building a safer and more inclusive society," she said.

Delegates from the Mainland and overseas will visit the Correctional Services Department's Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre's Sex Offenders Evaluation & Treatment Unit tomorrow to learn more about custodial and rehabilitative services.