ENG-2018 — Page 318

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Public Order

All persons in custody receive proper care. Their diets follow approved scales of nutritional values with regard to their health, religious and dietary requirements. All convicted adults, unless certified physically unfit, are required to work six days a week. They are assigned to different work posts according to their fitness and security ratings, personal experience and balance of sentence. They receive earnings, which may be used to buy approved articles and canteen items, as an incentive to acquire good working habits and vocational skills. They can watch television and read newspapers and library books. They may send and receive letters, receive visits and take part in religious services.

Correctional Facilities

Among the 28 correctional facilities, nine are for adult male offenders and two are for adult female offenders. Young males aged between 14 and 24 are housed in one correctional institution, one detention centre, one training centre and two rehabilitation centres, while young females aged between 14 and 20 are accommodated at one correctional institution and two rehabilitation centres. Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, Lai Sun Correctional Institution, Nei Kwu Correctional Institution and part of Lai King Correctional Institution accommodate convicted drug addicts. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre separately houses males and females in custody of all categories who require psychiatric observation, treatment or assessment. Seven of the correctional facilities cater for remanded people of different age groups. Each correctional facility typically has dormitories, a kitchen, dining rooms, a laundry, workshops, areas for exercise and recreation, a library and a hospital.

Two custodial wards in public hospitals accommodate persons in custody who need special medical care or surgery. Three halfway houses help those released under supervision reintegrate into society. Their residents may go out to work or attend school during daytime.

Penal Population

During the year, 9,588 adults (6,599 men and 2,989 women) were sentenced to imprisonment, 5,488 adults (4,198 men and 1,290 women) were remanded, 148 young offenders (116 males and 32 females) were sentenced to imprisonment, and 250 young persons (220 males and 30 females) were remanded. In addition, 115 offenders (103 males and 12 females) were sentenced to detention in training centres, rehabilitation centres or the detention centre in Sha Tsui, 561 offenders (435 males and 126 females) were placed in drug addiction treatment centres, and 1,190 offenders (1,009 males and 181 females) were remanded pending suitability reports for sentencing to one of these centres.

Pre-sentence Assessment

Young offenders and offenders with drug addiction problems who are sentenced to imprisonment may be remanded in custody for up to three weeks to assess their suitability for admission to a correctional facility. The Rehabilitation Unit under the CSD prepares suitability reports for the courts, while the Young Offender Assessment Panel, comprising CSD and Social Welfare Department representatives, considers cases referred by the courts and recommends to magistrates and judges the most suitable rehabilitation programmes for young offenders.

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