ENG-2001 — Page 417

PUBLIC ORDER

provided for inmates aged under 21 and voluntary programmes for adults. Voluntary organisations such as the Prisoners' Friends Association may visit inmates who are not visited by their families.

Prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment Scheme, offenders released under supervision from training centres, detention centres and drug addiction. treatment centres, and those having special needs may be accommodated in halfway houses for varying lengths of time. Thereafter, they are permitted to live at home or in other places while they continue to receive after-care supervision.

Penal Institutions

The CSD manages 13 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum, five medium and five minimum security institutions. Two prisons accommodate adult females, one maximum and one medium security. For young offenders, the department operates three prisons (one maximum and two minimum security) and two male training centres. A training centre section for females is provided in Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, a multi-function institution for females. There is also one detention centre for young males. Two drug addiction treatment centres are provided, one each for male and female drug addicts. The Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a maximum security prison which houses male and female prisoners of all categories (sentenced or on remand) and detainees who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Of all these institutions, five cater for remanded persons of different sex and age. Victoria Prison is the oldest prison in use. Facilities in a penal institution normally include dormitories, kitchens, dining rooms, laundries, workshops, exercising and recreational areas, library and a hospital.

Four halfway houses operated by the CSD provide group counselling sessions and other activities for inmates to assist their reintegration into society.

Since the closure of the last detention centre for Vietnamese migrants in June 1998, any Vietnamese illegal immigrants who arrive in Hong Kong are now detained in Victoria Prison after an initial period of quarantine in the Green Island Reception Centre.

To cope with the perennial overcrowding problem in correctional institutions, the department has completed expansion works in Stanley Prison and is redeveloping Tai Lam Correctional Institution. Furthermore, a prison development plan is being drawn up to address the long-term penal needs.

Penal Population

In 2001, the penal population remained high and averaged 14 per cent over the certified accommodation, with prisons for adults, particularly females, being the major pressure points. Despite overcrowding which stretched resources, the CSD continued to implement its correctional programmes effectively.

In 2001, 16 729 adult offenders (10 392 males and 6 337 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 6 882 adult remands (5 347 males and 1 535 females) were received for custody. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 1 784 (434 males and 1 350 females), and 876 young remands (588 males and 288 females) were received for custody. Besides, 609 young offenders (593 males and 16 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres or the detention centre,

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