Issue of cigarettes
to prisoner
Oral Reply by
The Hon D G Jea£freson, CBE, JP, Secretary for Security to a question from Dr. Hon Henrietta IP in the Legislative Council meeting of 25 November 1987
5. Dr. IP asked:
Will Government inform this Council whether, in keeping with its anti-smoking policy, it will review the Correctional Services Department's current practice of issuing cigarettes to prisoners upon request?
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SECRETARY FOR SECURITY:
Sir,
Cigarettes are issued only to adult prisoners
A
(aged 21—or above) who have indicated that they are
smokers. Young prisoners and inmates of training and
detention centres are not allowed to smoke. The issue
of cigarettes to adult prisoners has existed for a long
time. It would be difficult to withdraw it without
causing serious reactions in the adult institutions.
high proportion of male prisoners are smokers.
That said, the Commissioner of: Correctional Services is well
aware of the Government's anti-smoking policy. In keeping with
this policy, health talks on the ill effects of smoking are
organised, and all adult prisoners are required to attend. Anti-
smoking posters and literature are widely publicised and displayed
throughout the institutions. In other words, the Correctional
Services adopt the same approach of persuasion and education as
in the Government's anti-smoking campaign for the public at large.
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