ENG-1997 — Page 376

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accommodation of 208. Despite overcrowding which stretched resources, the CSD continued to implement its programmes effectively.

The number of VMs continued to decrease in 1997 when 5 846 were repatriated. With the declining Vietnamese population in detention centres, the Whitehead Detention Centre was closed in June 1997, which was a landmark achievement in the final chapter of the whole Vietnamese migrant saga.

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 they are first-time offenders. There are 13 prisons for adult males, consisting of four maximum, four medium and five minimum security institutions. One maximum security prison, Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, accommodates prisoners requiring psychiatric treatment.

Adult prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment Scheme are housed in a halfway house. Residents must go out to work during the day and return in the evening.

Young Offenders

Prisoners aged under 21 are detained separately from adult prisoners. In 1997, 625 young men and 469 young women were sentenced to imprisonment, and 779 young men and 155 young women were received for custody on remand. Young persons aged between 14 and 20, who are convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment, may be remanded in custody for a period not exceeding three weeks for assessment of their suitability for admission to a training centre or, for males, a detention centre. For the detention centre, young adults aged between 21 and 24 may also be so remanded. A comprehensive report, together with the appropriate recommendations, will then be forwarded to the courts concerned. In 1997, 6 937 offenders were remanded for suitability reports, and the selection board deemed 3 790 — 3 367 males and 423 females - suitable for admission to a training centre or the detention centre.

Training centres provide correctional training for young offenders for periods ranging from a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years. They attend half-day educational classes and receive half-day vocational training. They also receive character development training in the form of scouting/guiding, Hong Kong Young People Award activities and Outward Bound training. On Sundays and public holidays, visits to youth centres, factories, sports centres and country parks are arranged for inmates nearing discharge to provide additional educational and training opportunities and to prepare them for re-integration into society. Upon release, inmates must have suitable employment or a place in school, and will be subject to a statutory period of supervision of three years.

In 1997, 209 young males and 33 young females were sentenced to detention in training centres, while 101 young male offenders and 21 young female offenders were recalled for further training for breach of supervision conditions. After being discharged from training centres, 59 per cent of the male offenders and 91 per cent of the female offenders completed the three-year supervision without reconviction.