XN000022-1995-06-14 — Page 66

- 51-

Prisoners' wages

Following is a question by the Hon Tam Yiu-chung and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mr Ken Woodhouse, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of the system adopted to adjust the wages received by the prisoners for their work and the prices of the canteen items they are permitted to purchase during imprisonment; and whether the Government will consider adjusting the wages of the prisoners and the prices of the canteen items simultaneously; if not, why not?

Reply:

Mr President:

The tender for the supply of canteen items is renewed once a year, in October. When the result of the tender is known, the prices of canteen items can be fixed; prison wages are then adjusted correspondingly in order to maintain prisoners' purchasing power.

Prisoners' wages may also be adjusted in line with increases in the prices of some canteen items which are dutiable items. This typically happens in March each year, at the time of the budget, but may exceptionally happen at other times of the

year.

All adjustments in prisoners' wages are made at the same time as increases in canteen prices.

End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995