Correctional Services Department 2022 Annual Review

Most of the correctional institutions have been in operation for decades. To keep pace with the times, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) has been working closely with the Architectural Services Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to implement practicable measures to upgrade the facilities of correctional institutions gradually, having regard to the design and security concerns of individual institutions. The CSD has been taking various measures to maintain air ventilation in correctional institutions. Apart from the installation of horn fans and the replacement of other types of electric fans in correctional institutions, the Department has added anti-suicide cell safety fans in cells, and progressively installed grille gates and windows which allow better air flow in correctional institutions.

To take forward the implementation of “Smart Training”, the Department also plans to redevelop the existing multi-purpose gymnasium of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Academy into a new multi-purpose complex to increase the number of training facilities and provide additional types of training venues. Besides, in view of the continuous growth in the number of adult male remands, the Department is also planning an in-situ partial redevelopment of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to expand its capacity by 410 places to alleviate its existing overcrowding situation.

To meet its future development and operational needs, the Department commenced the construction of the Correctional Services Headquarters Building at Shing Tai Road, Chai Wan in the first quarter of 2021. The Superstructure Commencement Ceremony was held on 1 December 2022, and the project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024. The CSD plans to bring together its main offices and facilities currently located at different districts to the new Headquarters Building, as well as to set up a Central Command Centre equipped with advanced technology, so as to enhance its co-ordination capability, management effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Apart from upgrading correctional facilities and utilising new technologies to enhance its operational efficiency, the CSD has been drawing up performance indicators for major tasks and compiling statistical data regularly to monitor the management of correctional institutions and assess the effectiveness of various rehabilitation programmes. The Department is working on the setting up of a cross-system comprehensive data platform to collect and consolidate data from different information systems for analysis and study. Under the first phase, major data from the human resources management system has been uploaded to the comprehensive data platform for use by the management staff since October 2022.

Moreover, the CSD has been proactively participating in the Government Data Open Plan. Since 2019, the Department has published 30 sets of statistical data concerning correctional work. In December 2021, the Department first published its Annual Spatial Data Plan for 2022-2024 to tie in with the Government’s development of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure so as to facilitate Hong Kong’s development as a smart city.

In view of the country’s commitment to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2060, the Chief Executive proposed in his Policy Address to build a “liveable Hong Kong”. To this end, the Department is implementing a number of green measures to save electricity and water, so as to reduce its carbon footprint. First of all, the Department has introduced various measures in respect of green computing, including purchasing information technology products with more environmentally friendly elements in accordance with the “List of 183 Green Procurement Items” issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), and making use of network printers and scanners to establish shared workstations in the offices of correctional institutions, so as to reduce the number of electronic devices and power consumption.

Secondly, the Department has replaced its dilapidated facilities with those with better energy-saving performance to save energy. In 2022, 10 air-conditioning and lighting system replacement projects were completed in correctional institutions while 19 improvement projects are still in progress.

Thirdly, to tie in with the Government’s policies on environmental protection, the Department supports the development of renewable energy. In this connection, the CSD has installed solar photovoltaic panels in some correctional institutions and peripheral facilities to convert the collected solar energy into electricity for use by correctional facilities to enhance energy efficacy. Following the completion of the installation of solar photovoltaic panels in Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and Hei Ling Chau Staff Quarters, the installation of 260 new solar panels in Shek Pik Prison was also completed in 2022, which are expected to come into operation in the first quarter of 2023.

Fourthly, apart from the periodic monitoring of water consumption in correctional institutions, the Department has gradually replaced water pipes of some ageing institutions for water conservation.

Fifthly, the Department has collaborated with the EPD to implement the food waste recycling project since 2022, under which the EPD arranges for the collection of food waste generated from the daily operation of Stanley Prison and Tung Tau Correctional Institution for delivery to the Organic Resources Recovery Centre at Siu Ho Wan for processing.

The Public Relations Unit (PRU) disseminates to members of the public news and information about the Department through various means, which include issuing press releases and photos to the media, handling media enquiries, holding press conferences, arranging media interviews, events and visits, etc. Besides, the PRU updates the departmental promotional videos from time to time, compiles the Department’s Annual Review and publishes the departmental monthly newsletter, The Guardian, to facilitate the public’s understanding of the work and latest development of the Department.

The Media Communication Unit has produced a large number of short videos using novel shooting methods and creative story outlines to enhance the general public’s understanding of correctional work and to promote rehabilitative messages and positive values to young people and members of the public. These videos won a total of 12 awards in major international competitions from 2021 to 2022. The Department has also issued a wide range of posts and information on various topics on its official Facebook page so as to introduce to members of the public, especially young people, the work of the Department and disseminate relevant information to them. The CSD launched its official WeChat page in October 2022 to offer an additional channel for sharing information about the Department with people of Hong Kong and the Mainland, with a view to strengthening mutual interaction.