ENG-1971 — Page 204

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PUBLIC ORDER

The open system has proved to be a useful method of handling suitable prisoners serving sentences under three years. The prison at Chi Ma Wan continued to take part in an afforestation programme and under the direction of the New Territories Administration has done much to assist the local population over the years. The institu- tion has a young prisoners section with separate dormitory accom- modation and a daily routine of half day study, half day labour.

Training centres provide an alternative to imprisonment for con- victed male offenders between the ages of 14 and 21. These centres are located at Stanley and Cape Collinson on Hong Kong Island, Shek Pik on Lantau and Lai Chi Kok in Kowloon and have a combined holding capacity of 666. Lai Chi Kok has facilities for both remands and recalls. These highly-disciplined institutions provide a full programme of school and vocational training, rounded off with sporting activities. There is a thorough and successful system of statutory aftercare and all inmates are found employment before release.

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The open system brings with it an increased risk of escape, and during the year there were 53 escapes (17 from open prisons) com- pared with 68 in 1970; 45 had been recaptured by the end of the year. During the second half of the year, five escapes occurred in or near the courts, compared with two in 1970 and four in 1969. Meas- ures are being taken to tighten up and improve security generally. A large percentage of convicted prisoners are found to be drug dependent. The addiction treatment centre at Tai Lam, with accom- modation for 508 males, provides a comprehensive medical and psychological treatment programme, aided by individual and group counselling. Those who are found suitable to undergo this treatment are detained for a period of six to 18 months, followed by a 12- month compulsory period of aftercare. To increase the amount of accommodation available for males within the treatment programme, Tong Fuk Prison will be redesignated the Ma Po Ping addiction treatment centre from January 1, 1972, providing a further 600 places for the care and rehabilitation of convicted people found to be dependent on narcotics.

The 'New Life House' is a supporting facility for the treatment centres and acts as a bridge between the centre and society.

Following a disturbance in Tong Fuk Prison on December 22, 1970, a three-man board of inquiry was appointed to investigate the incident. The report, submitted on January 18, 1971, indicated that there had been some difficulties in administering the prison.