XN000022-1996-05-22 — Page 46

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Prisoners injured or killed while in custody

Following is a question by the Hon Choy Kan-pui and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the number of prisoners injured or killed as a result of being physically assaulted whilst in the custody of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), in each of the past three years;

of the reasons for the occurrence of such incidents; and

whether family members of the prisoners killed in those incidents have been granted any compensation?

Reply:

Mr President,

Our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(a)

(b)

(c)

There were no deaths resulting from assaults among prisoners in the three years 1993 to 1995. There was, however, an assault incident in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on 28 April this year, which resulted in one fatality the first fatal case in recent years. The number of prisoners injured by assaults was 408 in 1993, 510 in 1994, 520 in 1995 and 193 in 1996 (up to April).

——

The reasons for these assaults were mostly personal grudges or disputes. A small number of assaults were due to bullying or to cigarette debts (cigarettes are used as money in gambling in prisons). The cause of the fatal assault case in April this year is still under the Police investigation.

Any prisoner who feels that he has a case to claim compensation for injuries caused by another person may seek compensation or damages through legal proceedings. The same applies to family members of prisoners killed while in custody. So far, there have been no cases where compensation was sought or awarded.

End