TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 224

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49.

PRISONS

101

Conditions in prisons have improved dramatically

from the serious over-crowding of a few years ago. The

numbers of prisoners have dropped, and accommodation

has improved as a result of substantial new construction

during the last four or five years. Nevertheless the

number of long-term prisoners requiring high security

is increasing. A further high security prison is

therefore being built at Shek Pik, for completion

in early 1981, and a further medium security prison

to replace Victoria Prison is planned for completion

about 1984 on Hei Ling Chau. It will then, at last,

be possible to demolish the old Victoria Prison. The

Drug Addiction Centre on Hei Ling Chau is achieving

excellent results in the cure of certain types of

addicts, and, with the expansion now in progress,

accommodation is available for 1170 inmates. This

is expected to rise to 1440 by 1980/81 when the total

drug addiction treatment accommodation available in

Hong Kong will reach 2250 places with an annual

throughput of nearly 7,000.