Operations and Institutional Management

In 2017, Operations Division kept on striving for perfection. We attained a number of satisfying achievements in custodial management.

Throughout 2017, 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. 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. To echo the government’s initiative in promoting smoke-free culture, 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. To promote a no-smoking culture, the Department has also set up “no-smoking zones” in other institutions including Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution. 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 2017 Chief Executive Election, 2017 Rural Representative By-election and 2017 Central and Western District Council By-election for the Peak Constituency and Tung Wah Constituency. In the past year, with the professionalism and perseverance of our staff, the Operations Division had lived up to ever-rising challenges and endeavoured to further enhance the operational efficiency and professional image of the Department.

In 2017, a total of 7 118 adult males were sentenced to imprisonment and 4 309 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 130 young men under the age of 21 sentenced to imprisonment and 196 remanded in our custody. Pik Uk Correctional Institution and Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution accommodate young male persons in custody. Those who are on remand or sentenced to long term imprisonment, including life imprisonment, are accommodated in Pik Uk Correctional Institution.

In 2017, a total of 3 074 adult females were sentenced to imprisonment and 1 372 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 45 young women under the age of 21 were sentenced to imprisonment and 22 remanded in our custody. They are accommodated in Lai King Correctional Institution.

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 56 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.

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 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 2017, 32 male and 2 female young persons in custody were admitted to the centres.

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 51 young detainees under the age of 21 and 12 young adults aged 21 to under 25 were admitted in 2017, with training periods ranging from one to six months and three to 12 months respectively.

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 to receive continuous assessment by staff on their needs and progress. A total of 40 male and 12 female young persons in custody were admitted in 2017.

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 2017, 694 adult persons in custody and 33 young persons in custody were admitted to the drug addiction treatment centres. Among them, 569 were males and 158 were females.

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 specialist 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. To respond to emergencies occurring within correctional facilities, to strengthen the security in the vicinity of the institutions, and to 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.

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 72 dogs. The Training and Support Team of the Unit is responsible for breeding, raising, training and taking care of sick canines.