ENG-1979 — Page 192

PUBLIC ORDER

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growth and the construction of a 17.5-kilometre concertina barbed wire fence to assist security forces in the New Territories.

The largest addiction treatment centre, accommodating 1,008 inmates, is on Hei Ling Chau. Many inmates have long criminal records although their offences may be of a minor nature. Ample open-air physical work is available for inmates who have played an important role in the development and expansion of the centre, while participating in the treatment programme. A new piggery, which can accommodate 350 pigs, has been completed by inmate labour. Approximately 1,360 double bunks and 390 triple-tier bunks for Vietnamese refugees were made during 1979.

Female Offenders

The Tai Lam Centre for Women, accommodating 282, contains sections for 136 prisoners and remands, 116 drug addiction treatment inmates, and a young inmates' training centre for 30. Owing to a lack of suitable accommodation at Tai Lam, high security risk prisoners are housed in a separate section at the nearby Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre. However, construction of a security wing to accommodate them has started. The programmes at the training and drug addiction treatment sections are similar to those practised in the male institutions.

Prison Industries

Prison industries have been developed to better utilise inmate labour. The objectives are to increase productivity and output and to ensure that the inmates are meaningfully employed. The productive work of prison industries includes garment making, shoe- making, silk-screening, printing, fibreglassing and light engineering. The output from prison industries in 1979 was valued at $21 million, compared with $17.9 million in 1978. Further progress was made during the year towards implementing the recommendations in the 1977 Advisory Report on Prison Industries, which aim at improving organisation and introducing modern techniques in management and control.

Medical Care

All of the Prison Department's institutions are equipped with hospitals or sick bays. The hospitals perform vaccinations, inoculations and chest X-rays, and carry out regular urinalysis for the presence of narcotics. Treatment is given for minor ailments and tuberculosis. Prisoners suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms undergo detoxification programmes. Full dental care is given to prisoners and inmates serving a sentence of more than three years, and routine and emergency treatment is available for those serving shorter sentences. During 1979, 2,779 prisoners and inmates donated blood to the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Emergency cases are transferred to government hospitals but less urgent cases are referred to visiting consultants or to specialist government clinics. Two psychiatrists from Castle Peak Hospital visit Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre daily to treat the criminally insane, to prepare psychiatric reports for the courts, and to examine prisoners referred from institutions for assessment.

Staff Training

The Staff Training Institute conducts one-year recruit courses, which include two periods of field training for officers and assistant officers. Refresher and specialised continuation courses are organised for staff of all ranks, to supplement in-service training at institutions.