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Early History

Early History | 1950's to 1990's | 2000's to NOW

Year Event
1841 Apr 30 Captain William Caine was appointed as the first Chief Magistrate and also to take charge of the Police and the Gaol
  Aug 9 The first prison in Hong Kong was instituted
1853 Sept 20 The first legislation concerning the Hong Kong prison was enacted
1876   Penal diet (bread and water for European prisoners and rice and water for Chinese prisoners) was introduced as a form of punishment
1894 Apr 5 The last executions in public view were carried out within the gaol
1920 Dec The then Prisons Department was separated from the Police Department and led by Superintendent of Prisons
1932 Apr 19 A new female Prison at Lai Chi Kok was opened
1937 Jan The Hong Kong Prison at Stanley (now known as Stanley Prison) came into operation
1938   Probation services came under the administration of Prisons Department
1946 Dec The first "open" delinquent institution was set up - a temporary reformatory institution to receive boys from 8 to 16 years of age
1948 Apr 1 Probation services were transferred to the Social Welfare Office established under the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in 1947 (and subsequently to the Social Welfare Department in 1958)

Early History | 1950's to 1990's | 2000's to NOW