ENG-2005 — Page 407

Public Order | 353

and young offenders. Male and female young offenders aged between 14 and 20 may be admitted to a training centre or a rehabilitation centre. A detention centre programme is available for male offenders aged between 14 and 24. Drug addicts found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be sentenced to a drug addiction treatment centre. Separate sections are available for young addicts aged between 14 and 20. Offenders requiring psychiatric treatment are accommodated in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.

The inmates' daily needs are properly cared for including their diet which is designed according to approved scales of nutritional values and takes account of health and religious requirements. All adult inmates, unless certified physically unfit by a medical officer, are required by law to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to factors such as their fitness and security ratings, personal background and balance of sentence. They receive earnings for the work done and may use the money to buy approved personal items twice a month. Television, newspapers and library books are available to inmates. They may send out and receive an unrestricted number of letters, receive regular visits and participate in the religious services available. Compulsory education and vocational programmes are provided for inmates under 21 whereas voluntary programmes are provided for adults. Voluntary organisations 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, the 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 13 prisons for adult males, consisting of three maximum-, five medium- and five minimum-security institutions. Adult female prisoners are accommodated in three prisons. For young offenders, the department operates three prisons (one maximum and two minimum security), two training centres for males, two rehabilitation centres for males, a detention centre for young males, two rehabilitation centres for females and a training centre section for young females in Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution. Two drug addiction treatment centres are also provided, one for male and one for female drug addicts. The Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre is a 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 remand 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, Hong Kong's oldest, opened in 1841 and finally ceased operating as a prison at the end of 2005. It will be reprovisioned at the old staff married quarters adjacent to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre which is being converted into a prison, Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution. The new prison, which will also relieve