ENG-2003 — Page 406

PUBLIC ORDER

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Prisoners released under the Pre-release Employment Scheme, offenders released under supervision from training centres, detention centre, rehabilitation 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 12 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum, five medium and four minimum security institutions. Female prisoners are accommodated in three prisons. For young offenders, the department operates three prisons (one maximum and two minimum security), two male training centres, two male rehabilitation centres and two female rehabilitation centres. A training centre section for young females is provided in the 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 also provided, one each for male and female drug addicts. The Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a maximum security prison which separately 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 males and females of different age groups. Facilities in a penal institution normally include dormitories, kitchens, dining rooms, laundries, workshops, exercising and recreational areas, library and hospital. Victoria Prison, the oldest prison and in use since 1841, will be reprovisioned by the end of 2005.

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

Vietnamese illegal immigrants who arrive in Hong Kong are now detained in Victoria Prison after an initial period of quarantine.

To cope with the perennial overcrowding problem in correctional institutions, the department has drawn up a long-term prison development plan. In order to handle the increasing number of female adult offenders, Ma Hang Prison was converted from a male prison to a female institution in October 2003.

Penal Population

In 2003, the penal population remained high and averaged 10 per cent over the certified accommodation, with prisons for adults, particularly females, being the major pressure points. The female penal population continued to rise in 2003, and the female adults sentenced to imprisonment and remanded in custody increased by 21 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, over 2002. A record high of 3 007 was registered in October, representing an occupancy rate of 197 per cent. Despite overcrowding which stretched resources, the CSD continued to implement its correctional programmes effectively.

During the year, 22 600 adult offenders (11 992 males and 10 608 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 8 878 adult remands (6 577 males and 2 301 females) were received for custody. The number of young offenders sentenced to imprisonment totalled 2 046 (473 males and 1 573 females), and 824 young remands (665 males and 159 females) were received for custody. In addition, 730 young offenders (671 males and 59 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres