Hong Kong Correctional Services Annual Review 2014[ Commissioner’s Foreword] [ Operations and Institutional Management ] [ Rehabilitation ] [ Industries and Vocational Training ] [ Human Resource Management ] [ Quality Assurance ] [ Administration and Planning ] [ Green Management ] [ Appendices ] |
We CareVision
Mission
Value
Commissioner's ForewordIn the past year, the staff of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) continued their relentless efforts to uphold public safety and reduce crime in Hong Kong by providing a secure and healthy custodial environment for persons in custody, as well as helping them turn over a new leaf through various rehabilitation programmes. The CSD also collaborated with different stakeholders to enhance community education and publicity to support rehabilitated persons. I would like to express my special thanks to Mr SIN Yat-kin, my predecessor who has recently retired after more than 35 years of service in the department. Under his brilliant leadership, Mr SIN has made tremendous contribution to the operation and long-term development of the department during his tenure of office. In 2014, the average daily penal population at correctional facilities was 8 797 persons, representing a decrease of 4.4%, and the average occupancy rate was about 76.6 %. Reflecting the ageing population in Hong Kong, the penal population has also witnessed a growing number of elderly persons in custody (i.e. persons aged 65 or above) over the past decade. According to the latest projection, the proportion of elderly persons in custody in the average daily penal population will rise from approximately 2% in 2015 to about 5% in 2023. In order to provide suitable custodial and rehabilitation arrangements for elderly persons in custody and better utilise correctional facilities, the CSD completed a facility improvement project in Tai Lam Correctional Institution in late 2014 for the intake of suitable elderly persons in custody. Besides, since quite a number of correctional facilities have been in use for many years and some were originally not purpose-built as prisons, we keep on implementing redevelopment and improvement works to ensure that they can meet modern-day needs. An example is the on-going partial redevelopment of Tai Lam Centre for Women, which is targeted for completion in end 2016. In 2014, there were 3 592 cases of persons in custody violating prison discipline, representing an increase of 10% from the previous year. There were 567 cases of acts of violence in 2014, which mainly involved fighting among persons in custody and assaults, representing an increase of 18.9% from the previous year. Among these cases, 16 cases (seven cases less than the previous year) involved correctional officers being assaulted during their course of duty. The increase in disciplinary and acts of violence cases precisely reflects the challenges and pressure encountered by correctional officers. We will enforce the law strictly to combat and contain such acts of indiscipline and maintain discipline and order in correctional facilities, thereby allowing persons in custody to live in a secure custodial environment with regular schedules for work and rest and reflect on their wrong doing and participate in rehabilitation programmes without worry. To strengthen the security of correctional facilities and prevent the smuggling of dangerous drugs by concealment inside the human body, the CSD started using low-radiation X-ray body scanners in 2013. We successfully reduced the number of seizures of dangerous drugs from 59 cases in 2013 to 51 cases in 2014, a decrease of 13.6%. In the coming year, most manual rectal searches will be replaced by the use of scanners at all reception centres. The CSD has been working closely with some 80 non-government organisations (NGOs) to implement diversified and appropriate rehabilitation programmes and initiatives. We offer opportunities and assistance to persons in custody by equipping them with useful job and life skills, providing education as well as building up their self-confidence, thereby helping them start a new life upon release. Education programmes of different levels are arranged for young persons in custody according to their progress and potential. We also offer guidance and assistance to adult persons in custody who are willing to pursue studies and take up part-time academic courses. In respect of vocational training, 16 training courses are provided to young persons in custody and 38 market-oriented vocational training courses are available for adult persons in custody who are due for discharge within three to 24 months. In 2014, some 1 400 adult persons in custody voluntarily enrolled in vocational training courses covering a wide spectrum of trades. The CSD also encourages employers to register as “Caring Employers” and offer job opportunities to rehabilitated persons. In 2014, another Employment Symposium was successfully held to support the hiring of rehabilitated persons. We also jointly organised the first-ever video conferencing job fair with the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and the Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited. With the participation of more than 70 business organisations from 17 trades, the job fair enabled persons in custody who would be released within four months to have real-time interviews with potential employers by using video conferencing technology. Over the years, we have been reaching out to the community to promote rehabilitation work and seek public support for and acceptance of rehabilitated persons. In 2014, the CSD held various ongoing publicity initiatives including district-based publicity activities co-organised with the 18 District Fight Crime Committees, Thank You NGO Week, the NGO Forum, the Award Presentation Ceremony for Volunteers of CSD Rehabilitation Volunteer Group, and the TV Variety Show on “Support Offender Rehabilitation for a Safer and More Inclusive Society” broadcast in November 2014, etc. On community education, the CSD focuses on disseminating to students and young people the important messages of leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project. Last year, more than 25 000 students participated in various activities under the Project. The department also adopted a new format of “Forum Theatre” for the first time in the three Student Forums held in 2014. It featured a drama performance by a local professional repertory theatre company to enhance interactive sharing and reflective thinking among the student participants. The results were very positive. The CSD actively supports the government’s anti-smoking policy. On 1 January 2013, the CSD designated Tung Tau Correctional Institution as the first “No Smoking Correctional Facility” to accommodate adult male non-smoking first-time offenders. With the relentless efforts of our colleagues in promoting various anti-smoking measures, Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution was subsequently designated as the second “No Smoking Correctional Facility” on December 1, 2014 to house adult male non-smoking recidivists. The department is undergoing a peak period of staff wastage and the phenomenon will continue for a few years. We will actively conduct recruitment exercises to fill the vacancies. Although the penal population is decreasing, the number of cases involving persons in custody seeking medical treatment at Accident and Emergency Departments due to acute illness or accidental injuries, admission to hospital due to illness or regular specialist treatment in outside clinics has remained high in recent years. The significant increase in medical escort duties performed by CSD staff has put tremendous pressure on our human resources. The CSD has just introduced a Departmental Mobile App. With a view to enhancing the communication between the department and the general public, the new Mobile App provides easy and instant access to important and updated information of the CSD anytime and anywhere. Such information includes the location of and recommended public transport access to every correctional facility, job vacancies of the CSD and, for registered visitors, the assigned institution of an individual person in custody and whether a visit can be made. 2014 has been a busy year for the CSD and the year ahead will undoubtedly be another challenging one. Our whole team will continue our utmost efforts to serve the community with dedication and commitment for the stability of Hong Kong.
YAU Chi-chiu, CSDSM
Directorate Officers
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