SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1984
SIR PHILIP OPENS ONE OF WORLD'S MOST MODERN PRISONS+
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THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (SATURDAY) OFFICIALLY OPENED THE SHEK PIK PRISON, A MODERN, PURPOSE- BUILT, MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION ON LANTAU ISLAND.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, SIR PHILIP SAID THAT OWING TO THE POPULATION GROWTH AND THE RECENT RISE IN SERIOUS CRIME. PARTICULARLY VIOLENT CRIME, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE+ IN THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS SERVING SENTENCES OF OVER SIX YEARS.
+THE NUMBERS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, FROM 662 IN 1979 TO 1 358 THIS YEAR. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS SERVING IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE ROSE FROM 58 TO 92,+ HE SAID.
NOTING THAT THE LAST MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON TO BE BUILT WAS STANLEY PRISON, WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION 47 YEARS AGO, HE SAID THAT THE ADDITION OF SHEK PIK PRISON WAS TIMELY.
SIR PHILIP STATED THAT THE NEW SHEK PIK PRISON HAD BEEN BUILT FOR PRISONERS WHO HAVE TO BE IN MAXIMUM SECURITY CONDITIONS, HAVING REGARD TO THE LENGTH OF THE IR SENTENCES, THE DEGREE OF SOPHISTICATION THEY USED IN COMMITTING THEIR CRIMES, AND THEIR GENERAL PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR.
THE PRISON CAN TAKE IN 482 PRISONERS. IT IS USED FOR THOSE SERVING MEDIUM TO LONG SENTENCES, INCLUDING LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
WORK ON THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE $135-MILLION PRISON PROJECT STARTED IN OCTOBER 1980. THE STRUCTURE COMPRISES STAFF QUARTERS, AS WELL AS A COMPLEX OF MULTI-STOREY PRISON BUILDINGS, INCORPORATING WORKSHOPS, DINING HALLS, A KITCHEN, A GYMNASIUM, A LIBRARY, A CHAPEL, VISITING FACILITIES AND CELLULAR ACCOMMODATION FOR PRISONERS AND AN 18-BED HOSPITAL.
IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL UNIT IS ALSO BEING SET UP FOR PRISONERS WHO REQUIRE PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.
AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST MODERN PRISONS, IT IS INSTALLED WITH HIGH TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC SECURITY AIDS, INCLUDING AN INFRA-RED PERIMETER ALARM, A SOPHISTICATED RADIO NETWORK, AND A COMPREHENSIVE CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM WHICH CONSISTS OF OVER 160 CAMERAS SET UP ALL OVER THE PRISON AND 36 TELEVISION MONITORS AT THE CONTROL ROOM.
IT IS ALSO INSTALLED WITH A SOLAR ENERGY WATER HEATING SYSTEM PROVIDING HOT WATER FOR KITCHEN, LAUNDRY AND FOR BATHING. WITH A SOLAR PANEL AREA OF 480 SQUARE METRES, IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S LARGEST SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM.
/PRISONERS THERE