ENG-1958 — Page 252

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

The Staff Training School has been set up in the buildings at Stanley released by the Tung Tau Wan Training Centre. In addition to basic training it will provide a variety of courses, including refresher courses at intervals in an officer's career.

Stanley Prison is situated on the Stanley Peninsula on the south of Hong Kong Island. It was built to accommodate 1,746 prisoners but has been overcrowded throughout 1958. The main buildings consist of six three-storeyed separate cell blocks, each with 286 cells. There are separate wards for European prisoners, for prisoners under punishment, and for previous offenders serving periods of five years and over. There is an excellent hospital and well-equipped workshops, kitchen and laundry. 8,238 prisoners were received during the year, the daily average number in custody being 2,635 (the daily average in 1957 was 2,420).

Victoria Prison is next to the Central Magistracy and within a few minutes of the Supreme Court, a situation well suited to its functions as a Classification Centre and prison for male prisoners on remand and awaiting trial. 6,058 prisoners were received in 1958, the daily average population being 400 (479 in 1957).

Chi Ma Wan Prison is near the village of Shap Long on the south-east corner of Lantau Island and 13 miles from Victoria. It is a minimum security establishment with accommodation for up to 650 short-term prisoners. The main occupation is the afforestation of the area surrounding the prison. So far, with the advice of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department, 676 acres have been planted and a further 772 acres are scheduled for development in the next planting season. 4,180 prisoners were received in 1958, the daily average population being 610 (501 in 1957).

Lai Chi Kok Prison for women is on the mainland, on what were once the outskirts of Kowloon; the prison has gradually been hemmed in by growing industrial and resettlement areas. The women sleep in dormitories, with the exception of long-term first offenders who have pleasant rooms which were formerly cells but are now never locked. The Matron and all her staff are locally recruited. 1,221 women were received in 1958, the daily average number of occupants being 144 (119 in 1957).

Training Centres. Stanley Training Centre and Cape Collinson Training Centre both take boys between the ages of 14 and 21