PRISONS
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The Prisons Department is ably led and staffed and it plays a vital part in the fight against crime. Inspite of rapid expansion of accommodation in the last 22 years, it still needs more to reduce overcrowding. The new reception centre for about 1,000 at Lai Chi Kok and the new Training Centre in Tsuen Wan district, both of which open next year should help considerably. But further high security accommodation is needed and proposals will be put to you for a new prison for 400 at Shek Pik for completion in 1980.
The detention centre continues to be most effective in dealing with offenders aged from 14 to 20. But the number of persons under 21 convicted of crimes of violence has dropped and there has been an increase in the 21 to 30 age group. So your Government proposes to extend an amended version of the programme to offenders over 21 but under 25. A centre for this age-group will be opened next April. We must use every means available to us to master the problem of the young thug.
Some progress has been made in plans to expand prison industries and vocational training. But in both of these fields progress remains unsatisfactorily slow, and the department is engaged in a thorough reappraisal. To help in this an expert on prison industries will be coming here early next year.
CRIME
The rise in crime has at last stopped and the prospects of reducing it are becoming brighter, although we still have a long way to go. I would like to pay a
very sincere tribute to the work of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. It has
vigorously set its house in order. I realise that public attention is often distracted
from the considerable improvements which have been brought about by headline-catching crimes of individuals or disappearances of wanted persons. But these must be put in perspective and I would like to stress that I have no doubt that the general situation in the Police
Force has vastly improved. Three years ago it was 3,200 under strength. But by the end of this financial year it will be virtually up to its full establishment of 17,000.