to work beyond the limits of their physical endurance. Nor were they required to work on public holidays. CAT/C/SR.51 page 6 20. The Chinese Government strictly forbade assaulting prisoners, verbal abuse, other ill-treatment, the extraction of confessions and corporal punishment. To guarantee their legal rights and livelihood, prisoners enjoyed the right of appeal, the right to legal defence, the right not to be insulted and the right to security. They also had the right to bring legal actions, and retained the right of ownership of their lawful possessions and any other citizens' rights that had not been taken away from them by a court ruling. Criminals could communicate with their families, who could visit them once or twice a month. In the event of the serious illness or death of a relative or other major family event, the imprisoned criminal, with the authorization of the prison governor, might be allowed to visit his home. Like other citizens, sentenced prisoners enjoyed freedom of belief and religion. Prisoners who were members of national minorities were allowed to observe their daily customs, and due consideration was given to those customs in providing them with appropriate care. 21. The Chinese Government attached great importance to the education of prisoners: in every prison there were regular political, cultural and technical classes. If a prisoner passed an examination, the local education and labour department would issue a certificate attesting to that fact. Through their studies, most criminals changed from immoral, selfish people with no regard for the law or any idea of the value of work to become moral, law-abiding, industrious individuals with skills and a degree of education, enabling them to reintegrate smoothly into social life. The fact that that was so reflected the humanitarian spirit of Chinese prisons. 22. Since May 1983, responsibility for prisons had been conferred on the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to describe the conditions and treatment of prisoners in China, highlighting the rights and freedoms they enjoy, as well as the efforts made to educate and rehabilitate them. The text also mentions the importance of humanitarian spirit in Chinese prisons. This suggests that the category should be related to human rights, social welfare, or justice.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Education