ENG-1956 — Page 241

194

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Victoria Prison is next to the Central Magistracy and within a few minutes of the Supreme Court, a situation well suited to its function as a prison for remands and male prisoners awaiting trial. The demolition of the old buildings and the erection of a modern remand block form part of the Department's building programme. During the year a building formerly part of the prison but lately used by the Government Printer was converted for use as an up-to-date Reception and Classification Centre for all male prisoners. 8,248 prisoners were received, the daily average population being 530 (880 in 1955).

Chimawan Prison is a very new institution near Shap Long on the south-east corner of Lantao. Formerly a centre run by the Social Welfare Office for disabled persons, it was taken over by the Prisons Department on 3rd December, 1956, for use as the Colony's first open prison. It can accommodate up to 700 prisoners and is at present receiving short-term first offenders. There is a great deal of work to be done on the island, and an afforestation programme is at present being worked out in conjunction with the Forestry Officer. 139 prisoners had been received up to the end of the year.

Laichikok Prison for Women is on the mainland, on what were once the outskirts of Kowloon, but the prison has gradually been hemmed in by growing industrial and resettle- ment areas. The women sleep in dormitories with the excep- tion of long-term first offenders who have pleasant rooms which are, in fact, former cells but are now never locked. The Matron and all her staff are locally recruited. 1,247 women were received, the daily average number of occupants being 92 (98 in 1955).

Stanley Training Centre and Tung Tau Wan Training Centre both take boys between the ages of 14 and 21 sen- tenced to detention in a Training Centre. The provisions of the Training Centres Ordinance are based on the Borstal section of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948. The Centres can