Operations and Institutional Management
In 2018, Operations Division kept on striving for perfection with a number of satisfying achievements in custodial management.
Throughout 2018, all correctional staff made concerted effort to ensure public safety and exert our utmost 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 to provide a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment for persons in custody. Most of the correctional facilities are either aged or were originally built for other purposes. To meet the current requirements of penal operations and management, the Department will continue to explore other feasible redevelopment and improvement projects.
PICs at correctional institutions undergo searches for the purpose of maintaining order and discipline.
An elderly unit namely “Evergreen Garden” has been established at Tai Lam Correctional Institution since January 2015 in which an integrated correctional programme has been implemented to help elderly persons in custody to reintegrate into society after release as law-abiding citizens.
For the health of persons in custody, the Department has proactively supported the Government’s policy of tobacco control and promoted a smoke-free culture among persons in custody by implementing smoking cessation counselling programme and setting up no smoking correctional facilities, etc. The Department had officially designated Tung Tau Correctional Institution and Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution as the “No-smoking Correctional Facilities” in 2013 and 2014 respectively to accommodate adult male persons in custody who have decided not to smoke. The Department has also set up “no-smoking zones” in other institutions including Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution.
Besides, to encourage and facilitate persons in custody to quit smoking, the Department, in 2018 and for the first time, cooperated with the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health for arranging persons in custody to participate in the “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign organised by the Council, University of Hong Kong School of Public Health and School of Nursing.
The Department cooperated with the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health for arranging persons in custody to participate in the “Quit to Win” Smoke-free Community Campaign.
To facilitate persons in custody to vote in local elections, respective dedicated polling stations were set up in correctional facilities to allow eligible electors in custody to vote in the 2018 Legislative Council By-election, 2018 Eastern District Council By-election for the Kai Hiu Constituency and 2018 Rural Representative By-election. Moreover, the Department has all along conducted timely review on changes in penal population and the corresponding policies.
To further optimise institutional resources, we will devise appropriate schemes to renovate or convert the use of institutions. Given that the recent years have seen a steady decrease in the number of convicted young male persons in custody sentenced to imprisonment and increase in the number of adult male remand persons in custody, the Department rolled out a new round of resources redeployment schemes in mid-2018 to transfer convicted young persons in custody from Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution to Pik Uk Correctional Institution and transfer some of the remand persons in custody from Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to Stanley Prison to enhance cost-effectiveness in the operation of correctional institutions.
To address the overwhelming requests for official visit booking in some institutions with the limited visit rooms, the Department launched a pilot project of e-Booking system at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre in mid-2018 for increasing the usage of visit rooms, shortening the waiting time for visits, better utilisation of resources and enhancing the transparency of our services. In view of its success, the extension of the system to other institutions is under review.
In the past year, with the professionalism and perseverance of our staff, the Operations Division had kept abreast of time, lived up to ever-rising challenges with innovating mindset and endeavoured to further enhance the operational efficiency and professional image of the Department.
Male Persons in Custody
In 2018, a total of 6 599 adult males were sentenced to imprisonment and 4 198 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 116 young men under the age of 21 sentenced to imprisonment and 220 remanded in our custody. Pik Uk Correctional Institution is a maximum-security institution functioning as a remand centre and a prison for young male persons in custody.
Female Persons in Custody
In 2018, a total of 2 989 adult females were sentenced to imprisonment and 1 290 remanded in our custody. Tai Lam Centre for Women is a maximum-security institution functioning as a remand centre and a prison for adult women. Established in 2010, Lo Wu Correctional Institution is an institution for female adults, with one minimum-security wing and two medium-security wings. They are operated under the Correctional Services Integrated Management which emphasises care for people, environment and the community. A total of 32 young women under the age of 21 were sentenced to imprisonment and 30 remanded in our custody. They are accommodated in Lai King Correctional Institution.
General Treatment in Prisons
Female young PICs are attending recreational activities and physical exercises.
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, etc. Those who feel aggrieved may lodge complaint to the Department’s Complaints Investigation Unit, or to visiting Justices of the Peace and other external bodies through various complaint handling channels. To assist different ethnicities to familiarise themselves with the matters to note and relevant information on prison life as soon as possible, we provide them with an information booklet for persons in custody in 27 languages (i.e. 28 versions including traditional and simplified Chinese versions). Tablet computers with translation function for 62 languages have also been used to further facilitate the communication between correctional officers and foreign persons in custody. 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. Correctional facilities provide various rehabilitation programmes 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 which is fully individualised. Release is based on individual performance. Qualified teachers with relevant experience will conduct comprehensive education and vocational training classes for young persons in custody. Recreational activities are conducted regularly by qualified instructors. Extra-curricular programmes such as scouting activities and community services, etc. are arranged. In 2018, 30 male and 3 female young persons in custody were admitted to the centres.
90.1% Male
9.9% FemaleDetention 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 instil in detainees a respect for the law. A total of 38 young detainees under the age of 21 and 12 young adults aged 21 to under 25 were admitted in 2018, with training periods ranging from one to six months and three to 12 months respectively.
Rehabilitation Centres
Rehabilitation Centres provide training for young persons in custody in need of a short-term 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 the subsequent residence period, all young persons in custody, after studying, working or engaging in approved activities, will reside in the Rehabilitation Centre. A total of 23 male and 9 female young persons in custody were admitted in 2018.
71.8% Male28.2% FemaleDrug Addiction Treatment Centres
Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre accommodates adult male drug abusers while Lai Sun Correctional Institution accommodates both adult and young male drug abusers. Nei Kwu Correctional Institution and Lai King Correctional Institution accommodate adult and young female drug abusers respectively. Treatment lasts from two to 12 months through work and therapy to rid individuals of drug dependence and correct criminal behaviour. In 2018, 536 adult persons in custody and 25 young persons in custody were admitted to the drug addiction treatment centres. Among them, 435 were males and 126 were females.
Health Care for Persons in Custody
All correctional facilities have on-premises hospitals staffed by qualified personnel. In collaboration with the Department of Health, round-the-clock basic health care services 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 and gynecology specialists from the Hospital Authority or the Department of Health provide regular consultations to persons in custody. Working in collaboration with Castle Peak Hospital, the Department has conducted a clinical research on psychiatric telemedicine consultation for persons in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre since June 2014. In December 2015, the research study was extended to Tai Lam Centre for Women. Apart from Castle Peak Hospital, the Department explored the feasibility of conducting the clinical research on psychiatric telemedicine consultation with other public hospital as well. In April 2017, the Department collaborated with Kwai Chung Hospital to conduct relevant research and the study was subsequently extended to Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and Lo Wu Correctional Institution. The research study conducted with Castle Peak Hospital has been completed in May 2018 with satisfactory result. Upon discussion with the Department, Hospital Authority has approved Castle Peak Hospital to regularise the service of psychiatric telemedicine consultation since August 2018. Moreover, the Department positively explored the feasibility of extending telemedicine consultation to other specialties as well.
Working in collaboration with the Social Hygiene Clinic of the Department of Health, the Department has conducted trial dermatological telemedicine consultation for persons in custody at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution and Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre since June 2018. In June 2016, outreaching gynaecological services were put into operation at Lo Wu Correctional Institution and gynaecology consultations were provided to persons in custody on a regular basis by Medical Officers from Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital. Apart from reducing the impact on the routine of public hospital and members of the public, all the above measures could protect the privacy of persons in custody, avoid their embarrassment and physical discomfort arising from the conveyance. Pregnant persons in custody shall be provided with antenatal checkups and postnatal care, and arranged to give birth in public hospitals. In general, cases requiring in-patient care at public hospitals are admitted 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 the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and accredited academic bodies, e.g. universities to provide trainings for our healthcare staff. Smoking Cessation Counselling Programme with the provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapy are organised for adult persons in custody to relieve symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and to help them quit smoking.
Working in collaboration with the Social Hygiene Clinic of the Department of Health, the Department has conducted trial dermatological telemedicine consultation for persons in custody at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution and Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre since June 2018.
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, West Kowloon Transit Centre as well as the custodial wards in Queen Mary Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Correctional Emergency Response Team under the Escort and Support Group provides tactical support and response to large scale emergencies in correctional facilities. Besides, to respond to emergencies occurring within correctional facilities, strengthen the security in the vicinity of the institutions and carry out such tasks as high-risk escort duties, we set up Regional Response Teams under the Escort and Support Group in September 2016 with a view to providing more effective, prompt and tactical support at regional level. For solidifying our platform of international interflow to share expertise with counterparts of Pan-Pacific Region as well as strengthening the emergency response capability of staff, the Department sent a delegation of six members from Correctional Emergency Response Team and Regional Response Team to take part in the 5th Asian Prisons Lockdown Challenge in mid-2018 organised by Singapore Prison Service. The delegation team has clinched the Overall Championship.
The Group escorts persons in custody for court attendance, medical treatment, identification parade or inter-institutional transfer.
Representatives of the Correctional Emergency Response Team and Regional Response Team has clinched the Overall Championship in the 5th Asian Prisons Lockdown Challenge.
Correctional Services Dog Unit
Canines are trained and arranged to carry out patrol and drug detection duties for supporting the surveillance of correctional facilities. There are five regional dog teams located on Hong Kong Island, and in the New Territories, Hei Ling Chau, Lantau Island and Lo Wu, with a total of 70 dogs. The Training and Support Team of the Unit is responsible for breeding, raising, training and taking care of sick canines.
Canines carry out search and patrol duties to support the surveillance of correctional facilities.
