ENG-2010 — Page 404

342 Public Order

Information Technology and Management Services

The CSD makes continuous efforts to enhance the quality and efficiency of prison management and offender rehabilitation services through the use of new technologies.

Visiting Justices

Each penal institution is visited by Justices of the Peace fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institution. The Justices of the Peace receive and investigate complaints from persons in custody, inspect their diets and examine the living and working conditions in the institutions.

Quality Assurance

To uphold the service standard of the department and strive for continuous service improvement, the Quality Assurance Division initiates enhancement through the conduct of regular inspections and management studies.

Complaints

The Complaints Investigation Unit is responsible for handling and investigating complaints in relation to the department's work. All investigation reports are subject to the scrutiny of the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee. Offenders may also lodge complaints with any senior officers or duty officers of the CSD, or through other channels such as the visiting Justices of the Peace, The Ombudsman and the Legislative Councillors.

Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance

The Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance, which came into effect on August 9, 2006, provides a new statutory regime for the authorisation and regulation of interception of communications and covert surveillance conducted by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for the purposes of preventing or detecting serious crime and protecting public security. The ordinance provides for the appointment of a Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance as an independent oversight authority. On the recommendation of the Chief Justice, the Chief Executive appointed Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, as the commissioner. The commissioner is assisted by a secretariat in performing his functions under the ordinance.

The main duties of the commissioner are to oversee and conduct reviews on the compliance by LEAS and their officers with the relevant requirements under the ordinance; carry out examinations upon applications from people who suspect they are subjects of interception or covert surveillance conducted by LEAs; give notifications to those affected in cases of interception or covert surveillance without the authority of a prescribed authorisation; and make recommendations to the Secretary for Security on the code of practice issued under the ordinance and to the heads of LEAS to better carry out the aims of the ordinance and the code of practice.