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Hong Kong Correctional Services Annual Review 2013

[ Commissioner’s Foreword]   [ Operations and Institutional Management ]   [ Rehabilitation ]   [ Industries and Vocational Training ]

[ Human Resource Management ]   [ Quality Assurance ]   [ Administration and Planning ]   [ Green Management ]   [ Appendices ]

Operations and Institutional Management

In 2013, Operations Division kept on striving for perfection. Under the "3 Cares" management approach of "Caring for People, Caring for Environment and Caring for the Community", the Division attained a number of satisfying achievements in custodial management.

Throughout the year, all correctional staff continued to make concerted effort to ensure public safety and pursue service excellence in maintaining security, order and discipline of correctional facilities so as to minimise the chance of escapes and acts of indiscipline and prevent the smuggling of dangerous drugs. We provide adequate custodial care and basic necessities for persons in custody in a healthy and suitable living environment.

Most of the correctional institutions are non-purpose built and aged facilities operated for decades. It is therefore necessary to redevelop outdated facilities in order to meet the current requirements of penal management. The ongoing partial redevelopment project of Tai Lam Centre for Women will be completed in 2016 to provide 108 additional penal places and improved facilities.

Continuous effort was made to strive for operational efficiency and improvement of the living environment of persons in custody, targeting to modernise out-fashioned facilities and optimise the use of resources. Apart from redevelopment or refurbishment projects, no-smoking zones were established in certain correctional facilities to promote smoke-free culture. On January 1, 2013, Tung Tau Correctional Institution was officially designated as the Department's first "No Smoking Correctional Facility" for adult male persons in custody, which will only accommodate persons in custody who have decided not to smoke. To promote a no-smoking culture, the Department has also set up "smoke-free prison zone" in other institutions including Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution to accommodate non-smoking persons in custody or those who are determined to quit smoking.

In October 2009, amendments to subsidiary legislation under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance sets out a clear legal framework for persons in custody to vote in all local elections. In 2013 District Council By-election and 2013 Village Representative By-election , 22 dedicated polling stations were set up in correctional facilities to allow eligible electors in custody to vote.

To promote environmental protection, the Department launched the "Waste No Food" scheme in Lo Wu Correctional Institution in early 2013 to encourage persons in custody to reduce leftovers. Upon enrolment, persons in custody are issued with a reduced portion of their staple food, including rice, chapatti or potatoes, to reduce leftovers in meals. The food waste decomposing system in the institution can recycle a daily capacity of 100 kilograms of leftovers into organic compost for use by the institution for greening purpose.

We are committed to continually improving our quality of service, taking steadfast actions to maintain security, good order and discipline in correctional facilities, and providing a secure, safe, humane, decent, and healthy environment to assist persons in custody to reintegrate into society. With the professionalism and perseverance of our staff, the Operations Division will live up to challenges and endeavour to further enhance the professional image of the Department.

Male Persons in Custody

In 2013, a total of 7 728 adult males were sentenced to imprisonment and 6 506 remanded in our custody.

Adult persons in custody on long term sentences, including life imprisonment, are accommodated in Stanley Prison and Shek Pik Prison.

There were 267 young men under the age of 21 sentenced to imprisonment and 1 228 remanded in our custody at Pik Uk Correctional Institution.

Female Persons in Custody

In 2013, a total of 3 405 adult females were sentenced to imprisonment and 1 957 remanded in our custody.

Tai Lam Centre for Women accommodates adult female with a remand section and a designated unit for persons in custody of high security risk.

A total of 87 young women under the age of 21 were sentenced to imprisonment and 202 remanded in our custody at Lai King Correctional Institution.

To alleviate the long-standing over-admission problem in the adult female reception facility, in-situ partial redevelopment of Tai Lam Centre for Women has started and will be completed by 2016 to increase the accommodation capacity from 263 to 371.

General Treatment in Prisons

After assessment by the Classification and Categorisation Board, persons in custody shall undergo thorough medical examination and a short induction course to receive instruction on rules and regulations, rights, privileges and welfare assistance.

Those who feel aggrieved may lodge complaint to the Department's Complaints Investigation Unit, or to visiting Justices of the Peace and other external complaint handling channels. The information is publicised clearly in bilingual notices displayed in prominent places in all correctional facilities.

Adults have to work six days a week as required by law. It aims to engage them in meaningful work and enables them to build up good working habit and to acquire vocational and employability skills. Young persons in custody have to participate in a programme based on half day education and half day vocational training. Various correctional facilities provide rehabilitative activities for the well-being of persons in custody, which include vocational training in a wide range of trades, recreational activities and physical exercises.

Training Centres

The Training Centres Ordinance stipulates six months to three years of training for young persons in custody. Training is fully individualised and monitored to guarantee the best results possible. Release is based on individual performance.

Qualified teachers with relevant experience will conduct comprehensive education and vocational training classes for young persons in custody in order to equip them with skills and knowledge that can enhance their employability.

Recreational activities such as ball games and athletics are conducted regularly by qualified instructors. Extra curricular programmes such as scouting activities and community services are arranged. Other activities include hobby classes, music instrument classes, arts activities, chess playing and reading.

In 2013, 121 male and seven female young persons in custody were admitted to the centres.

Detention Centre

Sha Tsui Correctional Institution accommodates young male detainees and offers them a training programme under a strict regime. It emphasises strict discipline, hard work, physical training and foot-drill in order to instill in detainees a respect for the law. A total of 102 young detainees under the age of 21 and 14 young adults aged 21 to under 25 were admitted in 2013, with training periods ranging from one to six months and three to 12 months respectively. Training progress is constantly assessed and monitored.

Rehabilitation Centres

Rehabilitation Centres provide training for young persons in custody in need of a short-term residential rehabilitation programme. The programme consists of two phases with a total period of detention ranging from three to nine months. In the initial detention period, all young persons in custody will undergo education and vocational training for enhancing knowledge and employability. For the subsequent residence period, all young persons in custody will reside in the Rehabilitation Centre to receive continuous assessment by staff on their needs and progress after studying, working or engaging in approved activities. The combined benefits of training in correctional facilities and half-way house setting help young persons in custody lead a new life and reintegrate into society. A total of 125 male and 31 female young persons in custody were admitted in 2013.

Drug Addiction Treatment Centres

Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and Lai Sun Correctional Institution accommodate adult male drug abusers and young male drug abusers respectively while female drug abusers are accommodated at Nei Kwu Correctional Institution.

Treatment lasts from two to 12 months through work and therapy to rid individuals of drug dependence, correct criminal behaviour and restore confidence and health, both physical and psychological.

To reinforce persons in custody's determination to quit drugs, we provide a systematic and therapeutic programme, including work therapy as well as individual and group counselling, to enhance their understanding about drug addiction problems and prepare them for a pro-social and drug-free life.

In 2013, 1 030 adult persons in custody and 193 young persons in custody were admitted to the drug addiction treatment centres. Among them, 932 were males and 291 were females.

Medical and Health Treatment

All correctional facilities have on-premises hospitals staffed by qualified personnel. In collaboration with the Department of Health, round-the-clock basic medical treatment are provided in all correctional facilities.

Persons in custody at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre are attended to by visiting psychiatrists from the Hospital Authority.

Besides, visiting medical specialists, such as dentist, surgeon, and orthopedic specialist from Hospital Authority or Department of Health provide regular consultations to persons in custody. Ante-natal and post-natal cares are also provided to female persons in custody whose babies are delivered in public hospitals.

In general, cases requiring medical intervention in public hospitals are transferred to our custodial wards either in Queen Mary Hospital or Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

To ensure quality health-care and the enhancement of professional knowledge and skill, we constantly collaborate with Department of Health, Hospital Authority and Universities to provide talks and trainings for our healthcare staff. For instance, arrangements were made for them to participate in Health Care Talk for Aging Inmates in Correctional Institutions, Certificate Course in Mental Health for Correctional Health Professions, Simulation Training for Medical Emergency and Training on infectious control, etc.

A Smoking Cessation Counselling Programme with the provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapy was rolled out for adult persons in custody in Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution to relieve symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and to help persons in custody quit smoking.

Escort and Support Group

The Group escorts persons in custody for court attendance, medical treatment, identification parade or inter-institutional transfer, and provides correctional facilities with tactical support during emergencies.

The Group is also responsible for Cell Holding Units in the Court of Final Appeal, High Court and District Court, Kwun Tong Transit Centre as well as the custodial wards in Queen Mary Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Correctional Services Dog Unit

Canines are trained and arranged to carry out patrol and drug detection duties. There are five regional dog teams located on Hong Kong Island, and in the New Territories, Hei Ling, Lantau and Lo Wu, with a total of 63 dogs.

Apart from supporting the surveillance of correctional facilities, the Dog Unit takes part in regular exchange activities with the counterparts and relevant agencies to enhance the standards of dog training and handling.

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