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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1977
MR. GARNER SAID THAT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON WOULD BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL ON DECEMBER 1. IT WOULD TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF THE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE WHERE THE SITUATION HAD BECOME ALMOST INTOLERABLE IN RECENT YEARS.
THE CENTRE, HE SAID, COULD ACCOMMODATE 960 PRISONERS, 460
IN SINGLE CELLS AND 500 IN DORMITORY ACCOMMODATION.
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+THE CENTRE WILL BECOME THE MAIN REMAND AND RECEPTION CENTRE FOR THE ACCOMMODATING OF ALL MALE ADULT REMANDS, HE ADDED.
+ALL MALE ADULTS SENTENCED BY THE COURTS TO IMPRISONMENT WILL ALSO BE ADMITTED FOR OBSERVATION PRIOR TO CLASSIFICATION, CATEGOR ISATION AND EVENTUAL ALLOCATION TO TRAINING PRISONS.
+ IN ADDITION, PERSONS IMPRISONED FOR DEBT OR HELD FOR DEPORTATION WILL ALSO BE HOUSED HERE.+
MR. GARNER SAID THAT CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION EQUIPMENT WAS BEING INSTALLED AND THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PRISON IN HONG KONG TO HAVE SUCH A SYSTEM.
+A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE IS THE CONTROL ROOM WHICH IS THE NERVE CENTRE OF THE PRISON AND FROM WHICH ALL MOVEMENTS CAN BE CONTROLLED, HE SAID.
+ THE CENTRE HOUSES A 94-BED HOSPITAL AND IS EQUIPPED WITH X-RAY AND DENTAL EQUIPMENT.+
MR. GARNER POINTED OUT THAT SUCH EQUIPMENT WAS VITAL ON SECURITY GROUNDS FOR CONTRIVED VISITS TO OUTSIDE SPECIAL IST CLINICS WOULD PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ESCAPE AND POSE THREAT TO THE STAFF OF SUCH CLINICS AND ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO MIGHT BE ATTENDING FOR TREATMENT.
AT THE END OF HIS SPEECH, MR. GARNER, ON BEHALF OF HIS STAFF PRESENTED MR. MCDONALD WITH A PLAQUE CARRYING THE BADGE OF THE PRISON SERVICE AS A MEMENTO.
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