For information
on 18 September 1997

Provisional Legislative Council
Panel on Security

Overcrowdedness in Penal Institutions

Purpose

This paper informs Members of the latest position on overcrowding in penal institutions in the territory and the progress of the actions we have been taking to address the problem.

Background

2. As at 5 September 1997, the overall rate of overcrowding in penal institutions was 13%, compared to an average rate of 30% in 1996. The improvements are due in part to the additional capacity provided by the new Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre and Lo Wu Correctional Institution. However, the problem remains serious in prisons, where average occupancy exceeds certified capacity by about 21%. A summary of our penal institutions�occupancy rates is at Annex A.

Progress of measures to increase penal capacity Redevelopment Projects

3. We have been taking steps in the past few years to address the problem of overcrowding, mainly through redevelopment of existing penal institutions. A number of redevelopment projects to provide additional penal places have recently been completed or are under way. Taken together, the projects are expected to provide over 1 400 additional penal places. Details of the projects are summarized at Annex B.

4. We are also considering a proposal to expand the capacity of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, which is one of the most crowded institutions, with an overcrowding rate of 35%.

New prison facilities

5. Since a significant shortfall of penal places remains, we need to build new prison facilities to provide long-term relief. We have identified a site at Yam O in North Lantau as a suitable location for a new prison complex with capacity for up to 1 200 inmates. We have completed the consultations with the Tsuen Wan and the Islands District Boards. The proposal is now going through the Town Planning Board process. If everything goes smoothly, we expect to be able to start construction in 2000 and anticipate completion in 2003.

6. Meanwhile, we are continuing to explore other possibilities for additional penal accommodation.

Security Bureau
September 1997

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Annex A

Occupancy of Penal Institutions
(as at 5 September 1997)

Prisons	Population	Certified Accommodation	OccupancyRate (%)
Chimawan Correctional Institution	476	364	131
Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution	690	532	130
Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre	1 293	960	135
Lai Sun Correctional Institution	259	326	79
Lo Wu Correctional Institution	139	208	67
Ma Hang Prison	198	180	110
Ma Po Ping Prison	660	650	102
Pik Uk Correctional Institution	422	385	110
Pik Uk Prison	606	600	101
Shek Pik Prison	717	450	159
Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre	239	270	89
Stanley Prison	1 937	1 464	132
Tai Lam Centre for Women	575	278	207
Tai Lam Correctional Institution	636	590	108
Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution	182	160	114
Tong Fuk Centre	321	350	92
Tung Tau Correctional Institution	444	300	148
Victoria Prison	479	438	109
All Prisons	10 273	8 505	121
Drug addiction treatment centres
Chimawan Treatment Centre	151	250	60
Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre (Main) (Annex)	594211	784180	76117
Training centres
Cape Collinson Correctional Institution	175	230	76
Lai King Training Centre	199	260	77
Detention Centre
Sha Tsui Detention Centre	118	164	72

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Annex B

Redevelopment Projects to Increase Penal Capacity
Project	Number of new penal places	Progress to date	Completion date
conversion of the former Chimawan (Lower) Detention Centre into a drug addiction treatment centre for female inmates	250	completed	December 1996
conversion of the ex-military camp in Lo Wu into a minimum security prison	208	completed	August 1997
redevelopment of the Stanley Prison area to provide (1) additional accommodation in Stanley Prison, (2) a new annex to Tung Tau Correctional Institution and (3) a new medium security prison	775	works progressing on schedule	new annex to Tung Tau Correctional Institution for 200 penal places expected to be completed by the end of 1997; remainder of the redevelopment project expected to be completed in 1999
redevelopment of Tai Lam Correctional Institution	260	proposal being processed in Public Works Programme	2000 (earliest possible)