XN000022-1996-12-24 — Page 5

New drug addiction treatment centre at Chi Ma Wan

A total of 227 female prisoners have been transferred to the newly completed drug addiction treatment centre (DATC) at Chi Ma Wan, to provide much-needed relief to the extreme over-crowded situation in women penal institutions.

The conversion of the Chi Ma Wan (Lower) Detention Centre into a Drug Addiction Treatment Centre (DATC) for women, at an estimated cost of nearly $15 million, was completed last week.

A total of 159 prisoners from the drug addiction treatment centre of Tai Lam Centre for Women and 68 inmates from the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution were transferred there during the past week.

Work on the project at Chi Ma Wan (Lower) started at the beginning of this year and was completed earlier this month to provide accommodation for 250 inmates.

Prior to this week's transfers, the Tai Lam Centre for Women had 801 prisoners, which was 188 per cent above its certified accommodation, while the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution with 263 inmates was 64 per cent above its occupancy rate. The Chi Ma Wan Correctional Institution, which is located above the new DATC, with 701 inmates is 93 per cent over its certified accommodation.

A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said various facilities in the former detention centre had been renovated and upgraded to provide a vocational training/education complex, three workshops, improved kitchen facilities, a sick bay and clinic, shower rooms and changing space.

"Among the female prison population, about 14 per cent are drug addicts and the number of such prisoners has been on the increase in recent years.

"We have noticed that there is a daily average of about 20 to 40 female offenders on remand in DATCs for assessment of their suitability for detention there. The increasing number of female offenders in this category had further stretched the existing staff resources and facilities at DATCs of Tai Lam Centre for Women and Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution.