Hong Kong Correctional Services
懲教署 | |
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Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1879 |
Jurisdiction |
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Headquarters | 23rd, 24th and 27th Floors, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai |
Employees | 6,659 |
Minister responsible |
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Agency executives |
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Website | www.csd.gov.hk/ |
Hong Kong Correctional Services | |||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 懲教署 | ||||||||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 惩教署 | ||||||||||||
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Hong Kong Correctional Services (also called Correctional Services Department, CSD, 懲教署) is responsible for prisoners and prisons in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Correctional Services reports to the Secretary for Security.
Although the Chief Magistrate (now Commissioner of Police (Hong Kong)) was given control over prisons in 1841, the legislation to create the department did not come into being until 1853. CSD was part of the Hong Kong Police Force until 1879 when the role of Superintendent of Victoria Gaol was created. Superintendent of Victoria Gaol was re-titled as Superintendent of Prisons, the department has been financially independent from the Hong Kong Police Force since 1921.
Ranks
As with all of the Hong Kong Disciplined Services, British-pattern rank insignia continue to be utilised, with the only change being the replacement of the St. Edward's Crown by the Bauhinia flower crest in 1997.[1]
- Commissioner of Correctional Services (similar insignia to a UK General)
- Deputy Commissioner (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant-General)
- Assistant Commissioner (similar insignia to a UK Major-General)
- Chief Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Colonel)
- Senior Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant-Colonel)
- Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Major)
- Chief Officer (similar insignia to a UK Captain)
- Principal Officer (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant with a bar beneath)
- Officer (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant)
- Probationary Officer (similar insignia to a UK Second Lieutenant)
- Technical Instructor
- Assistant Officer Class I (similar insignia to a UK Sergeant)
- Assistant Officer Class II (similar to a UK Private)
- Instructor
Facilities
CSD has 29 facilities across Hong Kong ranging from maximum security prisons to rehabilitation centres.
Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
Shek Pik Prison | Shek Pik | 1984–present | Maximum security institution | 426 | active |
Sha Tsui Correctional Institution | Shek Pik | 1972–present | Minimum security institution | 121 | active |
Tong Fuk Correctional Institution | Ma Po Ping | 1966–present | Medium security institution | 925 | active |
Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre | Shek Pik | 2002–present | Rehabilitation Centre | 90 | active |
Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
Bauhinia House | Tai Lam Chung | 1984–present | Half-way House | 24 | active; moved to current location in 2002 |
Lai King Correctional Institution | Kwai Chung | 2008–present | Minimum security institution | 200 | active |
Chi Lan Rehabilitation Centre | Kwai Chung | 2008–present | rehabilitation centre | 40 | active; relocated from Shek O Road in 2008 |
Pik Uk Correctional Institution | Sai Kung | 1975–present | Maximum security institution | 385 | active |
Pik Uk Prison | Sai Kung | 1975–present | Minimum security prison | 550 | active |
Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 1972–present | Maximum security institution | 261 | active |
Tai Lam Centre for Women | Tai Lam Chung | 1969–present | Maximum security institution | 151 | active |
Tai Lam Correctional Institution | Tai Lam Chung | 1980–present | Minimum security institution | 598 | active |
Wai Lan Rehabilitation Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 2002–present | Minimum security institution | 24 | active |
Lo Wu Correctional Institution | Lo Wu | 2010–present | medium security institution | 1400 | active |
Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre | Lai Chi Kok | 1977–present | Maximum security institution | 1484 | active |
Lai Hang Rehabilitation Centre | Tai Wo Ping | 2002–present | Rehabilitation Centre | 70 | active |
Phoenix House | Tai Wo Ping | 1983–present | Half-way house | 30 | active |
Pelican House | Tai Wo Ping | 1995–present | Half-way house | 30 | active; moved to location in 2004 |
Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
Cape Collison Correctional Institution | Cape Collison | 1958–present | Training centre | 192 | active |
Ma Hang Prison | Stanley | 1974–1/2015 | Minimum security institution | NA | decanted |
Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1999–present | Medium security institution | 424 | active, adult no smoking correctional facility |
Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution | Tai Tam Gap | 1980–present | Minimum security institution | 160 | active |
Tung Tau Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1982–present | Minimum security institution | 452 | active, adult no smoking correctional facility |
Victoria Prison | Central | 1841-2005 | Maximum security institution | NA | closed; see publication entitled "Victoria Prison Memorial Book" published by the CSD and available from the Correctional Services Museum Gift Shop at the Stanley Prison. |
Stanley Prison | Stanley | 1937–present | Maximum security institution | 1511 | active |
Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status/Remarks |
Lai Sun Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 1984–present | Minimum security institution | 164 | active |
Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 1984–present | Medium security institution | 532 | active |
Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre | Hei Ling Chau | 1975–present | Drug Addiction Treatment Centre | 672 | active |
Nei Kwu Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 2002–present | Minimum security institution | 236 | active |
Juvenile prisoners
As of 1997 there were four juvenile correctional facilities for males. Female juveniles were held at Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, which housed females under age 21. At the time Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and Sha Tsui Detention Centre also held male juveniles.[2]
Prisoner demographics
As of 2017 there were about 8,423 prisoners in the Hong Kong prison system. The numbers of prisoners by territory were 5,663 Hong Kongers; 1,734 not from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau, nor the Republic of China area (including Taiwan); and 1,026 from Mainland China, Macau, and the ROC. The respective percentages were 67, 21, and 12.[3]
Reading materials
As of 2018 there were about 100,000 books in the prison libraries; the percentages by language were 83% Chinese, 10% English, and 7% not in Chinese nor English. Prison authorities stated that they did not wish to buy very many books in neither official language to ensure the security of the prisons; Legco member Shiu Ka-chun criticised this rationale.[3]
Crest
The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols:[4]
- St Edward's Crown replaced by the stylised Bauhinia flower crest
- Replacement of the Royal cypher by a Compass rose, with the words "Correctional Services 懲教署" circling it
- Addition of a laurel wreath bearing the words "Correctional Services Hong Kong"
Weapons
CSD officers are trained in the use of, and can be issued, revolvers as lethal sidearms, the ASP expendable baton and the Sabre Red pepper spray are the standard less-than-lethal options; additionally a type of pepper gun and the rubber bullet rifle form the standard-issue equipment of the elite anti-riot team officers, known as the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT). Aside from handguns officers are also trained in the use of shoulder arms such as shotguns and rifles, however the long arms are rarely issued.
Revolvers are issued to staff escorting prisoners outside the prison, to those stationed in the watchtowers of the maximum security prisons. Other firearms are authorized for use under the observation of senior officers such as when prisoners escape from the prison, riot or when causing damage to the prison.
- Smith & Wesson Model 10: Standard issue sidearm for all CSD officers, 6-shot .38 Special revolver
- Remington 870: Standard issue 12-gauge shotgun
- Ruger Mini-14: Standard issue rifle, chambered in 5.56×45mm, only issued as a final resort
- AR-15- Standard issue for Guard of Honour
CSD in popular media
- TVB drama series Tomorrow Is Another Day was filmed with the full co-operation of the CSD who allowed the film crew to film and access to Stanley and other prisons.
- 2017 Independent Movie With Prisoners (同囚) was filmed as a story about prisoners being tortured inhumanly in Sha Tsui Correctional Institution. A claim that the film was based on real events was later retracted.
References
- ↑ International Encyclopaedia of Uniform Insignia, Hong Kong Correctional Services
- ↑ "VII. SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF PRISONERS" (Archive). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved on 3 January 2016.
- 1 2 Lam, Jeffie (2018-06-24). "Prisoners in Hong Kong who read no Chinese or English have few books to choose from behind bars". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ↑ Correctional Services Department
External links
- Correctional Services Department (in English)
- Correctional Services Department (in traditional Chinese (HK))
- Correctional Services Department (in simplified Chinese)
- Index of articles at the South China Morning Post