PUBLIC ORDER
223
from crime scenes, and this work also involved visits by scientists to the scenes. Forensic bloodgrouping, document examination and arson investigation featured prominently in this work. Other sections were involved in the examination of narcotics, scheduled poisons, and organs and body fluids in cases where the cause of death was unknown.
Correctional Services
The Commissioner of Correctional Services is responsible for the overall administration of 21 correctional institutions, three half-way houses, a staff training institute and an escort unit, with an establishment of 5 863 uniformed and 528 non-uniformed staff. During 1984, the average daily penal population was 7895, compared with 7 894 in 1983 and 7 328 in 1982.
In addition, the department is responsible for running three closed centres housing Vietnamese refugees. The number of refugees detained in these centres was 5 654 by the end of 1984.
The
year saw the completion and official opening of a number of development projects: Lai Sun Correctional Institution, a medium security prison for young offenders on Hei Ling Chau; Shek Pik Prison, a maximum security prison on Lantau Island; Stanley Prison workshop complex and hospital extension; and Bauhinia House in Central, a half-way house for girls. The $135 million Shek Pik Prison is equipped with high technology electronic security aids including an infra-red perimeter alarm, sophisticated radio net- work, and a comprehensive closed circuit television system which consists of over 160 cameras sited at strategic locations throughout the prison with 36 television monitors in the control room. There is also a solar energy water heating system providing hot water for the kitchen and laundry as well as for bathing. With a solar panel area of 480 square metres, it is the government's largest solar energy system.
Adult Male Offenders
All institutions are assigned a security rating designating them as maximum, medium or minimum institutions depending upon the degree of security available. There are 12 prisons for adult males including a psychiatric centre. Shek Pik Prison has maximum security facilities for 466 prisoners and has relieved Stanley Prison, the largest maximum security institution, of some of the burden of housing prisoners serving very long sentences. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, also a maximum security institution, provides accommodation for the criminally insane and those requiring psychiatric treatment, while Lai Chi Kok Recep- tion Centre provides secure conditions for persons awaiting trial or remanded in custody during court hearings. Civil debtors are also detained at Lai Chi Kok although these are now few in number.
There are three medium security prisons for adult males, namely, Ma Po Ping Prison on Lantau Island, Victoria Prison in Central District and Tung Tau Correctional Institution on the Stanley peninsula. Minimum security prisons include Ma Hang Prison, Pik Uk Prison, Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Tong Fuk Centre and Chi Ma Wan Prison. Many of the prisoners in these institutions are employed on community projects or on other work outside the institutions.
Special arrangements are made for geriatric prisoners who are housed at Ma Hang Prison and Ma Po Ping Prison. These elderly men are not able to keep up with the brisk pace of normal institutional life but in these units the tempo is slower and the routine less demanding and although they are still required to work, if medically fit, they are employed on only light industrial tasks or gardening.