ENG-1990 — Page 329

PUBLIC ORDER

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Establishment and Recruitment

The establishment of uniformed members of the department at the end of 1990 totalled 7 111. The number of civilian staff of the department stood at 717. Continuous recruitment exercises were held throughout the year, resulting in the appointment of 35 station officers, four ambulance officers, 165 firemen and 131 ambulancemen. Standards are high and on average only about eight per cent are accepted for appointment.

Buildings and Quarters

In line with the government policy to provide an emergency response to all areas within minimum set times according to the category of risk, the department continues to plan and build fire stations and ambulance depots at strategic locations to cope with developing Hong Kong. In 1990, Sheung Shui Fire Station and Kwai Chung Fire Station were reprovisioned to improve services in these areas. There are now 58 fire stations, 25 ambulance depots/stations and five fireboat stations in the territory. A total of 432 rank-and-file married quarters were completed and occupied during the year and planning was in hand for the provision of about 980 additional married quarters for firemen and ambulancemen.

Correctional Services

The Correctional Services Department administers a wide range of programmes for adults, - young offenders, drug addicts and the criminally insane. Broadly, three categories of service are provided custodial, after-care and industries. In addition, the department manages detention centres for Vietnamese boat people and, until May 1990, closed centres for Vietnamese refugees.

At the end of 1990, the department was managing 19 correctional institutions, three halfway houses, a staff training institute, an escort unit and five detention centres for Vietnamese boat people. Policy guidance and administrative support is provided from its headquarters. There were 6 760 staff looking after 12 771 inmates, 27 829 Vietnamese boat people, and 3 326 persons under after-care supervision.

During the year, the number of Vietnamese boat people and Chinese illegal immigrant workers in custody continued to increase, imposing serious strains upon existing accommodation, staffing and other resources. To meet the shortfall in accommodation, additional beds had to be placed in dormitories and cells designed for one person.

Male Offenders

Prisoners are assigned to institutions according to their security rating, which takes into account, among other things, the risk they pose to the community and whether or not they are first offenders.

There are 11 prisons for adult male prisoners including:

four of maximum security: Stanley Prison, Shek Pik Prison, Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre;

three of medium security: Ma Po Ping Prison, Tung Tau Correctional Institution and Victoria Prison; and

four of minimum security: Tai Lam Correctional Institution, Pik Uk Prison, Tong Fuk Centre and Ma Hang Prison.

Stanley Prison and Shek Pik Prison house prisoners serving long sentences or life imprisonment. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre accommodates the criminally insane and those