With regard to a media report today (December 17) claiming that there were persons in custody receiving treatment in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre (SLPC) found dead and secretly removed from the institution, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) clarifies that the report is not a fact.

     SLPC detains persons in custody who require mental health care, psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. The psychiatrists from the Hospital Authority will visit SLPC every working day to provide persons in custody with the mental health services including observation, treatment and assessment. Moreover, correctional officers with psychiatric nursing qualification will assist the psychiatrists to provide services to persons in custody concerned. There is no major change recently in terms of penal population in SLPC.

     This Department solemnly states that, according to the existing mechanism and the laws, if a person in custody dies during the incarceration in penal institution, the case will be reported to the Police for investigation and a death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

     The CSD gives severe condemnation to the irresponsible report of misinformation.

Ends/Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Issued at HKT 23:13

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