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PUBLIC ORDER
to fill these posts resulted in more than 8,100 applications. Some 369 posts have been filled and priority has been given to bring the operations branch to full strength. Recruitment is continuing with all possible speed to build up the corruption prevention and community relations branches. The latter will operate mainly through sub-offices established in the main population centres. It is planned that the first two sub-offices should be operational early in 1975.
In the period since the commission came into being 3,189 allegations of corruption have been received—about three times the number received during the previous year. An operations target committee considers all reports and advises on action to be taken. The courts dealt with 108 cases, resulting in the conviction of 66 persons. A further 22 cases were still before the courts. Changes have been made to the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance to broaden the scope and strengthen further the Commissioner's powers of investigation. A corruption prevention advisory committee and a citizens advisory committee on community relations are also to be established to advise the Commissioner in these fields.
Prisons Department
Hong Kong's penal system provides specialised programmes for offenders aged between 14 and 21, convicted persons who are found to be addicted to drugs, as well as for prisoners in minimum and maximum security institutions.
The Commissioner of Prisons is responsible for the overall administration of 14 institutions.
Prisons
Stanley Prison, on the south-east of Hong Kong Island, is the largest security institution and accommodates both first offenders and others serving long sentences or requiring maximum security. Built in 1936 to accommodate some 1,600 prisoners the average daily muster in 1974 was 2,770. During the year work has gone ahead to improve security at the prison. All prisoners are employed within the prison on such industries as tailoring, carpentry, shoemaking, basketwork, silk screening, fibre-glass moulding and laundry work, all under qualified technical instructors. An outside annexe accommodates 80 prisoners who carry out general maintenance work outside the prison but within the adjacent area! These prisoners are classified as suitable for minimum security conditions and are serving sentences of under 18 months.
Victoria Reception Centre in Central, is easily accessible to most of the law courts and receives all male prisoners on remand and after sentencing. A separate section. is set aside to accommodate offenders aged 14–21 remanded by the courts for further hearing. All convicted prisoners undergo a thorough medical examination and appear before a classification board to determine to which institution they will be sent, taking into account such factors as physical fitness, category of security required, type of offence and past history. Although only designed to accommodate 442 inmates the average daily muster in 1974 was 843. The completion of a new reception centre now under construction in Kowloon will provide relief for the overcrowding that exists in this institution.