PUBLIC ORDER
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Crime is not such a problem as in the urban districts, but there has been a notice- able increase in recent years with more people taking outings to the islands from urban areas. There were 245 cases reported in 1975, of which 126 were solved. During the year 120 illegal immigrants were arrested by Marine Police, compared with 7,072 in 1974. The decrease was mainly due to the re-introduction on November 30, 1974 of repatriation to China.
The Marine Police Training School continued its in-service training throughout the year, with 281 officers of all ranks and 22 auxiliaries being trained in seamanship, engineering, wireless telegraphy and navigation. In addition, 10 officers attended courses at the Hong Kong Polytechnic.
Prisons Department
A study on the feasibility of setting up a psychological service within the depart- ment was begun in March by a United Nations expert on forensic psychology, Dr Robert Andry. He was attached to the department for six months and his report is now being considered by the government. Another new project for the department was the introduction in May of a drug addiction treatment centre for young addicts. aged between 16 and 21.
The Commissioner of Prisons is responsible for the overall administration of 16 institutions.
Prisons
Stanley Prison, Hong Kong's largest maximum security institution, was built in 1937 to accommodate 1,600 prisoners. Almost from the start it has housed inmates well in excess of this figure, and in 1975 the daily average population was more than 2,600. Stanley provides a comprehensive industrial centre within its walls and has large and well equipped workshops. Prison industries include tailoring, carpentry, shoemaking, silk-screening, fibreglass moulding and laundry work. An outside annexe accommodates 80 prisoners who carry out general maintenance work outside the prison. These prisoners are classified as suitable for minimum security conditions and are serving sentences of under 18 months. Ju
Victoria Reception Centre in Central district receives all male prisoners on remand and after sentencing. There is a segregated section for young offenders aged between 14 and 21. On admission, all prisoners undergo a thorough medical examina- tion including an X-ray. Those who have been convicted attend a classification board to determine the type of institution to which they will be best suited, taking into consideration physical fitness, category of security, type of offence and past history. The average daily population in 1975 was 857 compared with the approved accom- modation of 442. The completion of a new reception centre at Lai Chi Kok in Kowloon should alleviate overcrowding in this institution.
Chi Ma Wan Prison on Lantau Island is a minimum security institution catering mainly for first offenders serving sentences of under three years. The prisoners are employed on constructive projects such as afforestation, reclamation, draining, build- ing and road works. Two other similar institutions-Pik Uk in the New Territories