ENG-1986 — Page 257

PUBLIC ORDER

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The continuing prominence of non-opiate restricted substances together with the increasing complexity in the work of the Drugs of Abuse Section has resulted in the expansion and reorganisation of this section.

Forensic biochemistry concerning the grouping of blood, other body fluids and hair continued to progress and the gunshot residue project has met with considerable success and is now well established in routine casework.

Two new instruments were installed, an Argon Laser and a Mass Spectrometer, and these have allowed the division to expand appreciably its capacity in supporting the fight against crime.

Correctional Services

The Correctional Services Department administers a wide range of treatment and training programmes for different types of offenders. The department provides services for young offenders, drug addicts, first offenders and recidivists. It operates 20 correctional institu- tions, three half-way houses, a Staff Training Institute and an Escort Unit, with an establishment of 6 170 staff. There is capacity for 8 848 inmates, and the average daily population in 1986 was 8 107 compared with 7 969 in 1985. In addition, the department is also responsible for managing closed centres for Vietnamese refugees. The staff in these centres, with the exception of the senior management, have been specially recruited and trained to look after refugees. They have no previous experience in connection with prisons or prisoners.

Adult Male Offenders

Prisoners are assigned to an institution dependent upon their security rating, which takes into account the risk they pose to the community and whether or not they are first offenders. Care is taken to separate recidivists from first offenders.

Eleven prisons accommodate adult male prisoners, four being maximum security institutions. Stanley Prison and Shek Pik Prison house prisoners serving long sentences, including those sentenced to life imprisonment. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre accommodates the criminally insane and those requiring psychiatric treatment. Adult males awaiting trial or remanded in custody during court hearing are detained at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. Male civil debtors who are admitted into custody from time to time are held in a separate section at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

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Ma Po Ping Prison, Tung Tau Correctional Institution and Victoria Prison serve as medium security institutions for male offenders. In addition to its role as a prison, Victoria Prison also houses illegal immigrants awaiting repatriation to China, persons arrested for immigration offences, and a small number of Vietnamese refugees.

Four institutions, namely Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Pik Uk Prison, Tong Fuk Centre and Ma Hang Prison, are designated as minimum security prisons and are used to hold prisoners who work outside the institution, usually on community projects. A special section within Ma Hang Prison has been set aside for geriatric prisoners. Those who are medically fit are engaged in light industrial tasks or gardening, while the incapacitated may be hospitalised.

Young Male Offenders

The department implements four distinctly different correctional programmes under the Prisons, Training Centres, Drug Addiction Treatment Centres and Detention Centres Ordinances for the corrective training of young male offenders. In 1986, there was an average daily population of 1 062 young offenders in custody compared with 1 125 in 1985.

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