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Redeveloping old institutions would top Correctional Services Department agenda in 2007, Commissioner Mr Kwok Leung-ming said today (January 11) at a press conference to review the work of the department.
Overpopulation in prisons had been a serious problem over the years, but Mr Kwok said this would be alleviated with the commissioning of the department's Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution and the redevelopment of Lo Wu Correctional Institution in 2010.
"But given the problem of outdated facilities, we will continue to explore opportunities to redevelop our old institutions, not only to alleviate overcrowding, but also to update facilities."
Mr Kwok pointed out that most correctional facilities in Hong Kong were built many years ago. Those penal facilities were not purpose-built and many were outdated and worn-out and the department needed to renew those old facilities to maintain quality custody and rehabilitative services.
"As the penal population is still on the high side and while facilities in some penal institutions were relatively old, the department had examined the redevelopment of existing correctional facilities and the in-situ reprovision of institutions," he said.
"In July 2006, our plan to redevelop the Lo Wu Correctional Institution site into three penal institutions was endorsed by the Legislative Council's Finance Committee. The project will provide an additional 1,200 penal places at the existing site, bringing the total penal places there to 1,400.
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"Construction is scheduled to start in April this year and expected to be completed by the end of 2009. The new institutions will start taking inmates in 2010, greatly relieving overpopulation in penal institutions."
The penal population at institutions for young male offenders has been decreasing in the past 10 years despite the overcrowding situation at institutions for young females. The department reviewed the deployment of penal institutions at the end of 2006 and carried out a study for the best utilisation of penal facilities through regrouping.
Based on the findings, the department had decided to swap Lai King Training Centre for young male offenders with Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution for young female offenders. Conversion works would start soon and be completed before the end of 2008.
"Through this regrouping, we will improve facilities for rehabilitation programmes for young offenders and at the same time, maximise both staffing and financial resources," Mr Kwok said.
On rehabilitation, he said: "We continued to receive support, both financial and in kind, from our partners in the provision of financial assistance for inmates to pursue higher education and for vocational training."
During the year, more market-oriented training courses were provided to female inmates. These included courses on professional nail therapy, hair dressing and beauty care, which were jointly organised by the department and the private sector.
On the department's implementation of risks and needs assessment for all local inmates with sentences of two years or above, Mr Kwok said rehabilitative programme matching for offenders would be implemented this year starting from inmate centres.
The risks and needs assessment protocol is aimed at identifying prisoners prone to custodial and re-offending risks and to deliver rehabilitative programmes matching their needs. It also provides the department with a scientific and evidence-based approach to prison management and offender rehabilitation.
"We will implement the protocol in stages with regular reviews to ensure that it is gaining the best results," Mr Kwok said.
He said 2006 was a year of changes and challenges for the department in both its core business areas of custodial and rehabilitative services.
"With the concerted efforts and commitment of all members of the department, we have achieved our goals in custodial and rehabilitative services effectively."
Looking ahead, Mr Kwok said he was confident that the department would press ahead with one heart and do its utmost in 2007 to strive for the best results in its custodial and rehabilitative services.
"The provision of secure and safe custodial services is the foundation of rehabilitative work. We will continue to spare no effort to deliver high quality custody service and dedicate ourselves to the promotion of rehabilitation services."
Ends/Thursday, January 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:54
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