Press Release

New earnings arrangements encourage inmates to reduce smoking

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) announced today (February 23) changes to prisoners' earnings arrangements. They include delinking cigarette prices from the mechanism for adjusting prisoners' earnings.

The changes will take effect on the same day (February 23). A CSD spokesperson said the department conducted a review of prisoners' earnings arrangements in 2009. After detailed consideration, the department decided to delink cigarette prices from the mechanism for adjusting prisoners' earnings to encourage inmates to reduce smoking and to align with the Government's anti-smoking policy.

The spokesperson said: "The new arrangements also include increasing the maximum earning grade of inmates attending full-time vocational training courses and psychological treatment programmes. With the same maximum earnings grade as other adult prisoners, this new arrangement will provide an incentive to inmates to participate in vocational training courses and psychological treatment programmes.

"The department will also adopt a unified approach to adjust the earnings of adult and young inmates when there are changes in the contract prices of canteen items, except cigarettes."

The changes to prisoners' earnings arrangements are published in a notice which is displayed in all correctional institutions.

Ends/Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:57

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