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Hong Kong Fact Sheet
Correctional Services
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) is responsible for ensuring a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment and providing appropriate programmes to persons in custody to assist them to rehabilitate. The CSD also proactively promotes community education to disseminate the messages of law-abidingness, inclusiveness and supporting offender rehabilitation to the general public, particularly young people.
With an establishment of 7 254 staff, the CSD manages 29 correctional facilities comprising correctional institutions, half-way houses and custodial wards of public hospitals. The correctional institutions include minimum, medium and maximum security prisons, detention centres for immigration detainees, a psychiatric centre and training, detention, rehabilitation and drug addiction treatment centres. Apart from 24 correctional institutions, there are three half-way houses and two custodial wards, which altogether accommodated about 9 100 persons as at end of 2023. The CSD also provided statutory supervision with around 1 100 persons under active supervision at the end of 2023.
Smart Prison: Since 2018, the CSD has been actively developing “Smart Prison” by implementing various technology projects to enhance the efficiency of prison management, the security level of institutions and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes. The first “Smart Prison” - Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution came into operation in 2021.
In addition, the CSD fully implemented the “Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System” in 2023 to integrate the existing eight core computer operating systems, enhance digital management and optimise the information technology infrastructure. Meanwhile, the CSD has launched a new public service, namely the “Social Visit e-Booking Service”, to facilitate visitation.
The CSD will continue to keep abreast of the times by introducing “Smart Prison” elements into new construction projects including the construction of the new headquarters building of the CSD and the redevelopment of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.
Adult Male Persons in Custody: The CSD operates nine correctional institutions for adult male persons in custody. Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre accommodates persons awaiting trial and newly-convicted persons pending classification and allocation to other institutions.
Stanley Prison, the largest maximum-security institution, houses persons serving life or long-term sentences and persons awaiting trial. Another maximum-security institution, Shek Pik Prison, houses those serving medium to long-term sentences including life imprisonment.
Tong Fuk Correctional Institution, Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution and Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution are medium-security institutions for adult male persons in custody.
The three minimum-security institutions are Tung Tau Correctional Institution, Pik Uk Prison and Tai Lam Correctional Institution. Elderly persons in custody of low security risk, normally aged 65 and above, are housed at Tai Lam Correctional Institution. Furthermore, some persons awaiting trial have been assigned to Tung Tau Correctional Institution and Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution since mid-2021 and early 2024 respectively to alleviate the overcrowding situation of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre and Stanley Prison.
Young Male Persons in Custody: Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a maximum-security institution, houses remand and convicted young persons in custody.
Sha Tsui Correctional Institution, a minimum-security institution, operates as a detention centre and training centre. The detention centre programme emphasises strict discipline, hard work and counselling. Detention varies from one to six months for offenders aged between 14 and 20, and three to 12 months for those aged between 21 and under 25. There is a 12-month supervision following release. Training centre detainees receive training periods from six months to three years. After release, they are subject to a three-year compulsory supervision. The young persons in custody have to participate in a programme with half-day education classes and half-day vocational training.
Lai Chi and Lai Hang Rehabilitation Centres house young male persons in custody for an aggregate period of three to nine months. The “Rehabilitation Centre Programme” focuses on reformation of young offenders, who are subject to one year’s supervision after release.
Adult Female Persons in Custody: There are two correctional institutions for adult female persons in custody. Tai Lam Centre for Women is a maximum-security institution functioning as a remand centre and a prison for adult women. Lo Wu Correctional Institution is the newest institution for housing remand and convicted adult female persons in custody, with one minimum-security wing and two medium-security wings.
Young Female Persons in Custody: Lai King Correctional Institution, a minimum-security institution, operates as a reception centre, training centre, drug addiction treatment centre and prison for young female persons in custody aged between 14 and 20. Chi Lan and Wai Lan Rehabilitation Centres accommodate young female persons in custody under the “Rehabilitation Centre Programme”.
Adult Detainees: Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution and Nei Kwu Correctional Institution are minimum-security institutions used for detaining adult male detainees and adult female detainees respectively under the provisions of the Immigration Ordinance.
Promotion of Smoke-free Culture: For the health of persons in custody, the CSD actively supports the Government’s anti-smoking policy and promotes a smoke-free culture among persons in custody through various anti-smoking measures including education, propaganda, counselling and smoking cessation courses. Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution has been assigned as a “No Smoking Correctional Facility” to accommodate adult persons in custody who do not smoke. Besides, the Department has set up “no-smoking zones” in other institutions including Stanley Prison, Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Tung Tau Correctional Institution. To encourage and help persons in custody to quit smoking, the Department has 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, and the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health and School of Nursing.
Drug Addiction Treatment: The CSD runs a compulsory treatment programme for convicted drug addicts. It provides the courts with an alternative to imprisonment. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre accommodates adult male drug abusers while Lai Sun Correctional Institution accommodates both adult and young male drug abusers. Adult and young female drug abusers are accommodated at Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Lai King Correctional Institution respectively. Inmates have to undergo the treatment programme for two to 12 months, which is based on discipline and open-air physical activities including work programmes and therapy, and is supported by one-year post release statutory supervision.
Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment: Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre provides psychiatric treatment for the criminally insane, dangerous and violent persons in custody. Persons sentenced under the Mental Health Ordinance and those requiring psychiatric assessment or treatment are accommodated in the Psychiatric Centre. Visiting psychiatrists of the Hospital Authority also provide psychiatric assessments for the courts. Males and females are located at separate sections therein.
Medical and Health Care in Institutions: All institutions have on-premises hospitals and are staffed by qualified healthcare personnel. In collaboration with Medical Officers from the Department of Health, round-the-clock basic health care services are provided in all institutions. Persons in custody who need further treatment and investigations are referred to visiting medical specialists or public hospitals for follow-up.
Industries and Vocational Training: The CSD keeps convicted adult persons in custody and remand persons in custody who opt to work gainfully occupied, enabling them to maintain an orderly and regular schedule for work and rest with a view to maintaining prison stability. In the pursuit of rehabilitation for offenders, the Industries and Vocational Training Section helps persons in custody reintegrate into society through acquisition of skills in industrial work and enhance their employability by providing diversified vocational training.
In 2023, a daily average of 4 121 persons in custody were engaged in industrial work to provide various government departments and public organisations with goods and services covering 13 trades in a cost effective manner. Examples are office furniture, staff uniforms, hospital linen, leather products, personal protective equipment, fiberglass products, traffic signs, metal railings, slabs and kerbs for infrastructure projects. Persons in custody also provide laundry services for the Hospital Authority, Department of Health and Fire Services Department. They laminate books for public libraries, undertake printing work and make file jackets and envelopes for government departments. The commercial value of these goods and services provided by the CSD in 2023 was $481 million.
A series of market-oriented vocational training programmes with recognised accreditation are organised for both young persons in custody and eligible adult persons in custody as to enhance their employability and enable them to enrol in bridging or progressive courses after release.
The CSD provides young persons in custody with 13 half-day vocational training courses, covering commercial practice, creative multimedia technology, coffee house operations, western pastry and dessert making, building services, beauty care, etc. Equal importance is placed on theoretical and practical aspects of the curriculum with a view to enhancing the employability of persons in custody and enabling them to enrol in relevant progressive courses in future.
The CSD collaborates with various training bodies (including the Employees Retraining Board, the Construction Industry Council and the Vocational Training Council) to provide over 40 full-time / part-time vocational training courses for eligible adult persons in custody, offering over 1 400 training places each year. These courses cover construction, engineering, business, food and beverage, retail, beauty care, transport, logistics, laundry services, computer application, environmental services, etc. for persons in custody to enrol on a voluntary basis and obtain recognised qualifications. Moreover, the CSD also helps them obtain qualification through applying the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF).
Statutory Supervision: To ensure continuous care and guidance, statutory supervision is provided for young persons in custody; persons released from training, detention, rehabilitation and drug addiction treatment centres; and those released under various schemes such as the Release Under Supervision Scheme (RUSS), Pre-release Employment Scheme (PRES), Post-release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme (PRSS), Conditional Release Scheme (CRS) and Supervision After Release Scheme (SARS). Regular contacts are maintained with every rehabilitated person. Close supervision continues after discharge through frequent visits to supervisees’ home or place of work throughout the supervision period.
The CSD runs three half-way houses – Phoenix House in Lung Yan Road for young supervisees released from detention, training and drug addiction treatment centres; Pelican House which is annexed to Phoenix House for persons in custody released under the RUSS, PRES and CRS as well as adults from drug addiction treatment centres and supervisees released under the PRSS with accommodation needs; and Bauhinia House in Tai Lam Chung for female persons released under the RUSS, PRES and CRS and female supervisees released from training and drug addiction treatment centres.
Success rates mean the percentage of supervisees who complete the statutory supervision without reconviction. For supervisees from drug addiction treatment centre, they must also remain drug free. In 2023, the success rates were: detention centre (99 per cent), training centres (73 per cent), drug addiction treatment centres (66 per cent), rehabilitation centres (100 per cent), young persons in custody under the Prison Programme (98 per cent), RUSS (100 per cent), PRES (100 per cent), SARS (100 per cent), CRS (100 per cent) and PRSS (96 per cent). Altogether, 879 males and 138 females completed statutory supervision in 2023 whereas 993 males and 152 females were under active supervision as at end of 2023.
Welfare and Counselling Services: The CSD looks after the welfare of persons in custody by providing assistance and guidance to help them solve their personal problems and cope with difficulties arising from detention. The CSD also organises programmes such as the Sentence Planning Scheme to encourage persons in custody serving long-term sentences to rehabilitate, and the Pre-release Re-integration Orientation Courses to prepare them for release.
To further improve rehabilitation porgrammes for persons in custody through community involvement, CSD officers work closely with rehabilitation synergistic partners to provide rehabilitation programmes. Around 100 non-governmental organisations / charity organisations / synergistic partners / community stakeholders run cultural, religious and recreational projects, provide counselling and services to address the rehabilitation needs of persons in custody.
Parent-child Centres: Apart from general social visit facilities, the CSD has established parent-child centres in Stanley Prison, Tong Fuk Correctional Institution, Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, Lo Wu Correctional Institution, Tai Lam Centre for Women and Lai King Correctional Institution for persons in custody to play and read with their young children aged below 11 in a suitable environment, thereby building and maintaining a close parent-child relationship.
Multi-purpose Family and Rehabilitation Service Centres: The five Multi-purpose Family and Rehabilitation Service Centres of the CSD located in Mong Kok, Shau Kei Wan, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun and Sha Tin aim to provide psychological and counselling services for rehabilitated offenders and their families, as well as a video social visit service for relatives and friends of persons in custody so as to strengthen the connection between persons in custody and their relatives and friends. Visitors who are unable to visit correctional institutions due to old age, pregnancy, disabilities or other special reasons can make an appointment for a video visit.
Project PATH: In recent years, a number of radical persons involved in serious offences have been admitted to correctional institutions. In order to deepen their understanding of Chinese history and culture, and enhance their sense of national identity, the CSD has launched the Project PATH having regard to the rehabilitation needs of these persons in custody. Based on the three major rehabilitation directions, namely “understanding Chinese history and strengthening national education”, “psychological reconstruction and re-establishment of values”, and “life planning and rebuilding of family relationships”, the Project PATH aims to assist persons in custody who have committed crimes due to radical thoughts to rebuild positive values and face positively the challenges ahead.
Project JET: The Project JET was launched at the end of October 2022 by the CSD to provide “one-stop” training and career development opportunities for persons in custody, with a view to encouraging them to make life planning early, so that they can contribute to society by utilising their talents. Activities under the project include: (1) life planning – to provide talks and workshops on life planning for persons in custody in correctional institutions; (2) in-centre training – to provide relevant professional training for persons in custody; (3) post-release internship – to provide post-release internship opportunities in Hong Kong or in the Greater Bay Area for persons in custody who have completed relevant training; (4) official employment – to offer full-time employment to rehabilitated persons with good performance during the internship; and (5) mentoring scheme – to match rehabilitated persons with appropriate mentors as life mentors to teach them work skills and provide life education during their internship and official employment.
Psychological Services: Psychological counselling is provided by the Psychological Services Section for persons in custody to improve their psychological well-being and help change their offending behaviour. Psychological assessments are provided as reference for the courts, review boards and the institutional management to facilitate their decision making and management of persons in custody. Counselling programmes and psychological services are also provided for adult persons in custody, young persons in custody and persons in custody with special needs to reduce the chance of reoffending and help them lead a law-abiding life.
The CSD has launched the Rehabilitation Dog Services in Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Phoenix House since 2024 to provide animal-assisted services to persons in custody, with a view to improving their psychological well-being. The Rehabilitation Dog Services Internship Programme has also been organised in Phoenix House, under which participants are taught to provide rehabilitation dogs with basic care and command training, so that they can develop a sense of responsibility.
To address mental health needs of staff, the CSD provides clinical psychology service to staff members at times of their emotional crises. Staff training, retreats, workshops, etc., have been regularly arranged to promote mental-health awareness, enhance stress management and cultivate a culture of healthy and balanced lifestyle among staff.
Correctional Rehabilitation Research Unit: To advance evidence-based services, the CSD established the Correctional Rehabilitation Research Unit in February 2024, and international experts were invited to serve as research consultants, with a view to expanding and enhancing its capability in conducting research. Besides, through promoting research and making reference to the latest international research findings, the Department also enhances the development and strategic planning of its rehabilitation services.
Education: Half-day education classes are provided for young persons in custody, while adult persons in custody are assisted to participate voluntarily in self-study courses or distance learning for tertiary education. The CSD also provides assistance to persons in custody for them to take part in local and international accredited public examinations to attain accreditations and qualifications. In October 2023, the Ethics College was set up at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and Lo Wu Correctional Institution to provide a one-year full-time Diploma of Applied Education programme for voluntary enrolment by adult persons in custody.
Religious Services: A full-time Chaplain co-ordinates the planning and provision of religious services. He is assisted by a number of volunteer Chaplains who visit and conduct services for persons in custody. Many volunteers of other religions and rehabilitation synergistic partners also provide a wide range of spiritual and social services in institutions.
Community Engagement: The CSD reaches out to the community to seek public’s engagement for offender rehabilitation. Among other partners, the Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders, composed of leaders and professionals from different walks of life, advises on rehabilitation strategies, notably publicity programmes.
Ongoing activities promoting offender rehabilitation have been organised to establish a bridge between persons in custody and the society. Through activities such as District-based Publicity Activities on Offender Rehabilitation of District Fight Crime Committees, Thank-you NGO Month and Award Presentation Ceremony for Volunteers of the CSD Rehabilitation Volunteer Group (CSDRVG), members of the public can better understand the importance of community acceptance and participation to persons in custody. In particular, the CSDRVG organises activities in meeting the rehabilitation needs of persons in custody. With more than 100 active volunteers, the Group conducted language courses, computer studies, cultural pursuits, etc., in various correctional institutions for the voluntary participation of persons in custody according to their own needs.
The CSD has launched the Rehabilitation Partners Award Scheme to promote collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, with a view to encouraging more community stakeholders to participate in rehabilitation work. Through pooling together resources from different sectors of the community, assistance can be provided for rehabilitated offenders to reintegrate into society and the message of supporting offender rehabilitation can be disseminated in the community.
Rehabilitation Pioneer Project: The Rehabilitation Pioneer Project includes a series of community education activities such as the Education Talks, Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme, Green Haven Scheme, Visits to Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, Extended Training Camp, Student Forum, Drama and Music Performance of “Creation and Rehabilitation”, the Reflective Path, Summer Camp, Mission in Prison, Rehabilitation Express and setting up of a uniformed group the Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders (RPL) to disseminate to the public the messages of safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation.
The Education Talks provide basic information on Hong Kong’s criminal justice system and the CSD’s custodial and rehabilitative programmes. The Personal Encounter with Prisoners Scheme instils anti-crime awareness by arranging young students to visit correctional institutions and meet with persons in custody for experience sharing. The Green Haven Scheme promotes anti-drug messages and the importance of environmental protection among young people. Participants meet with young persons in custody at treatment centres on Hei Ling Chau, gaining insight into the detrimental effects of drug abuse. The Visits to Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum foster participants’ understanding of the correctional services over the past 100 years. The Student Forum stimulates students’ introspection and participation through an interactive platform and a sharing session by a rehabilitated person. The Extended Training Camp, which lasts for three days and two nights, features a series of discipline training activities aiming at enhancing participants’ confidence and developing their positive values. The Drama and Music Performance of “Creation and Rehabilitation” enables students to enjoy drama and music performances presented by persons in custody to convey messages of the importance of obeying the law. The Reflective Path aims at enhancing students’ understanding of the criminal judicial system and correctional services, as well as the heavy cost for committing crimes through the simulation of imprisonment.
In addition, different competitions targeting the youth are organised by the CSD every year to disseminate the messages of safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation. Prize winners of the competitions will be arranged to join a Mainland tour. Participants will attend adventure-based training and visits to schools and families in rural areas, an eco-friendly factory of a global enterprise as well as large-scale infrastructure, so as to provide them with an all-round learning experience conducive to their whole-person development. The Mission in Prison activity incorporates the concept of smart prison to turn a real prison into a unique “classroom”. Participants of the activity will become correctional officers to carry out various tasks, thereby deepening their understanding of the duties of CSD staff, and enabling them to observe from another perspective the custodial environment and life in prisons, with a view to enhancing their awareness of the dire consequences of committing crimes. The RPL is a youth uniformed group established in July 2018. Youngsters with leadership potential are recruited, brought together and offered diversified training with a view to broadening their horizon, developing their potential and discipline as well as strengthening a sense of social responsibility. More than 400 youth members have been recruited. The Rehabilitation Express, launched in 2022, is a brand-new community education activity of the CSD tailor-made for primary school students. The CSD arranges a promotion vehicle to visit primary schools in various districts across the territory to enhance the promotion of national security, national education, crime prevention, as well as anti-drug and support for rehabilitation messages to primary school students through electronic games and dodgebee, a newly emerged sport.
Visiting Justices: Two visiting Justices of the Peace visit each penal institution fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of facility. The Justices of the Peace carry out relevant statutory duties such as investigating complaints made to them by persons in custody, inspecting diets and examining buildings and accommodation facilities. Visits are made at times and on days of their own choice within a prescribed period without prior notice.
Staff Training: The Hong Kong Correctional Services Academy (HKCSA) is responsible for planning and implementing training programmes to equip staff with relevant knowledge to fulfil the Vision, Mission and Values of the Department.
The HKCSA organises a wide range of training programmes, including the Basic Law, the National Security Law and National Studies Courses for newly-recruited Officers and Assistant Officers II who have to undergo 26-week and 23-week recruit training respectively. Through Interactive Classrooms, Virtual Reality System and Scenario Training Facilities, recruit trainees acquire knowledge on laws of Hong Kong, operational knowledge of the CSD, criminology, psychology, Chinese-style foot drills, tactical skills, integrity management, patriotic education, etc. It also arranges field placement for recruit trainees at different correctional institutions and foundation training courses organised by the Civil Service College for new recruits. Professional development training courses such as refresher courses, job-related training courses, professional management training and command training courses are regularly conducted at the HKCSA to help foster trainees’ individual work capability and their career development. The HKCSA maintains frequent collaboration with external training partners, including local, Mainland and overseas tertiary institutions and training organisations. Among such collaborations, the HKCSA collaborates with local tertiary institutions to organise HKQF Level 6 courses namely “Postgraduate Certificate in Correctional Governance and Leadership” which is the first of its kind in Asia related to correctional management and “Postgraduate Certificate in Training Management and Development” (both pitched at the same Qualifications Framework (QF) Level as a local Master’s Degree). Furthermore, the HKCSA appoints relevant professionals and members of the academia as Honorary Advisors.
To strengthen its professionalism in training, the HKCSA has been accredited as a Level 5 operator by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications to operate learning programmes meeting QF standards at Level 5 or below. The programmes include “Professional Diploma in Correctional Management (Officer)” for newly recruited Officers which has been accredited as a Level 5 programme under the HKQF (pitching at the same QF Level as a local Bachelor’s Degree), and the “Professional Diploma in Correctional Services (Assistant Officer)” for newly recruited Assistant Officers II which has been accredited as a Level 4 programme under the HKQF (pitching at the same QF Level as a local Associate Degree or a Higher Diploma) are recognised by the individual tertiary institution for credit exemptions.
To further enhance the culture of continuing education and life-long learning of the CSD, the Department has developed and established a Knowledge Management System (KMS), a one-stop online platform for learning, experience sharing and knowledge succession. In 2020, the CSD established a KMS mobile app to enable staff members to browse the departmental information with mobile phones and tablets in spare time. Between 2018 and 2023, the CSD has won the Hong Kong Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) Award and the Global MIKE Award for six consecutive years. The knowledge management and innovation of the CSD are internationally acclaimed.
Caring for All: Apart from performing their daily duties, CSD staff is encouraged to extend their spirit of caring for community by participating in various charitable activities such as voluntary work for fund-raising activities.
In recognition of the Department’s continuing and total commitment in caring for the well-being of staff, their families and the community as a whole, the CSD was awarded the “15 Years Plus Caring Organisation Logo” again in the year 2023/24 by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, having also been presented with the “Total Caring Award” in the year 2007/08.
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