Correctional Services Department

Last updated
Correctional Services Department
懲教署
HK Correctional Services Logo.svg
Agency overview
Formed31 December 1920;104 years ago (1920-12-31)
JurisdictionFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
Headquarters23rd, 24th and 27th Floors, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Employees7,052 (2018) [1]
Minister responsible
Agency executives
  • Wong Kwok-hing, Commissioner
  • Ng Chiu-kok, Deputy Commissioner
Website csd.gov.hk
Correctional Services Department
Traditional Chinese 懲教署
Simplified Chinese 惩教署
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Chéngjiàoshǔ
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization Chìhng gaau chyúh
Jyutping Cing4 gaau3 cyu5

The Correctional Services Department [3] (CSD) is responsible for the management of prisoners and prisons in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Correctional Services reports to the Secretary for Security.

Contents

History

Although the Chief Magistrate (now Commissioner of Police) 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.

The department has been financially independent from the Hong Kong Police Force since December 1920, when the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol was re-titled as the Superintendent of Prisons. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

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. [9]

RankUK equivalent
Commissioner of Correctional Services General
Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant-General
Assistant Commissioner Major-General
Chief Superintendent Colonel
General manager (Correctional Services Industries)N/A
Senior Superintendent Lieutenant-Colonel
Superintendent Major
Chief Officer Captain
Principal Officer Lieutenant with a bar beneath
Officer Lieutenant
Probationary Officer Second Lieutenant
Technical InstructorN/A
Instructor
Assistant Officer I Sergeant
Assistant Officer II Private

Equipment

Corrections guards presently wear green uniforms. Prison vehicles are blue and yellow and have the logo on them. [10]

NameCountry of originTypeNotes
Smith & Wesson Model 10 Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Revolver Standard issue
Remington 870 Shotgun
UTAS UTS-15 Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Exclusive use by Escort and Support Group
SIG Sauer MPX SBR Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Semi-automatic carbine
Ruger Mini-14
Colt AR-15 Semi-automatic rifle
Colt LE940
Type 56 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China Ceremonial use only
Pepperball Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Less-lethal optionVKS and TCP variants in use
Tippmann 98 Custom N/A
Federal Riot Gun
Penn Arms GL-1
Def-Tec 37mm

Facilities

CSD runs 28 facilities across Hong Kong ranging from maximum security prisons to rehabilitation centres.

Facilities have different purposes, including training centres, detention centres, rehabilitation centres, and drug addiction treatment centres. [11]

Lantau
Name of FacilityLocationYears of OperationFacility TypeCapacityStatus/Remarks
Shek Pik Prison Shek Pik 1984–presentMaximum security institution426Active
Sha Tsui Correctional Institution1972–presentMinimum security institution121
Tong Fuk Correctional InstitutionMa Po Ping1966–presentMedium security institution925
Lai Chi Rehabilitation CentreShek Pik2002–presentMinimum security institution90
New Territories
Name of FacilityLocationYears of OperationFacility TypeCapacityStatus/Remarks
Bauhinia HouseTai Lam Chung1984–presentHalf-way House24Active; moved to current location in 2002
Lai King Correctional InstitutionKwai Chung2008–presentMinimum security institution200Active
Chi Lan Rehabilitation Centre2002–present40Active; relocated from Shek O Road to Kwai Chung in 2008
Pik Uk Correctional InstitutionSai Kung1975–presentMaximum security institution385Active
Pik Uk PrisonMinimum security prison550
Siu Lam Psychiatric CentreTai Lam Chung1972–presentMaximum security institution261
Tai Lam Centre for Women 1969–present391
Tai Lam Correctional Institution1980–presentMinimum security institution598
Wai Lan Rehabilitation Centre2002–present24
Lo Wu Correctional InstitutionLo Wu2010–presentMedium security institution1400
Kowloon
Name of FacilityLocationYears of OperationFacility TypeCapacityStatus/Remarks
Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre Lai Chi Kok1977–presentMaximum security institution1484Active
Lai Hang Rehabilitation CentreTai Wo Ping2002–presentMinimum security institution70
Phoenix House1983–presentHalf-way house30
Pelican House1995–present40Active; moved to present location in 2004
Hong Kong Island
Name of FacilityLocationYears of OperationFacility TypeCapacityStatus/Remarks
Cape Collinson Correctional InstitutionCape Collinson1958–presentMinimum security institution192Active
Pak Sha Wan Correctional InstitutionStanley1999–presentMedium security institution424Active, adult no smoking correctional facility
Tung Tau Correctional Institution1982–presentMinimum security institution452
Stanley Prison 1937–presentMaximum security institution1511Active
Hei Ling Chau
Name of FacilityLocationYears of OperationFacility TypeCapacityStatus/Remarks
Lai Sun Correctional Institution Hei Ling Chau 1984–presentMinimum security institution202Active
Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution1984–presentMedium security institution532
Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre1975–presentDrug Addiction Treatment Centre672
Nei Kwu Correctional Institution2002–presentMinimum security institution236

Prisoner demographics

As of 2018 there was a daily average of 8,310 prisoners in the Hong Kong prison system.

The prisons had an occupancy rate of 81.6 per cent, while training, detention, rehabilitation, and drug addiction treatment centres had an occupancy rate of 30.8 per cent. [1]

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 too many books of non-official language to ensure the security of the prisons; Legco member Shiu Ka-chun criticised this rationale. [12]

Ethics College

On 30 November 2023, Ethics College opened in Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution, with its establishment sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and teachers and teaching materials provided by Hong Kong Metropolitan University.

The first batch of students comprised 75 inmates, 60 male and 15 female the latter joining remotely from Lo Wu Correctional Institution who enrolled in a one-year course for an applied education diploma. [13]

Among them was Tong Ying-kit, the first person sentenced under the Hong Kong National Security Law. The first graduation ceremony was held in August 2024. [14]

Crest

Badge of the Correctional Service Department before 1 July 1997. Badge of the Correctional Service Department before 1st of July, 1997.gif
Badge of the Correctional Service Department before 1 July 1997.

The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols: [15]

Staff associations

Controversies

In February 2021, it was reported that the CSD had worked with the Security Bureau to reduce "collusion" between foreign governments and those in custody.

The CSD began to ask those in custody to produce both their HKID and foreign passports, or else consulate staff would not be allowed to assist them. In addition, for those in custody who may have broken the national security law, they would be required to sign an oath to declare their nationalities.

The Canadian government revealed that a prisoner with a Canadian passport was forced to choose a nationality on 18 January 2021. [16]

A spokesperson for the United States said that there were now [16]

"deep concerns that this new Hong Kong policy will compel people to declare their citizenship under duress and without an opportunity to understand the full implications of the declaration."

In response, the CSD declined to comment. [16]

In February 2021, commissioner Woo Ying-ming claimed that some people were becoming prisoners for the glorification of being imprisoned for political reasons, and also said that district councillors would be restricted from visiting prisoners unless they give a "valid reason." [17]

In March 2021, Apple Daily reported that sources told the newspaper that the CSD's "secret unit" handled the detention of Andy Li, who was arrested for attempting to flee to Taiwan. [18]

In July 2023, 7 CSD officers were arrested, with allegations that they had gang raped a woman. [19]

In January 2024, the CSD claimed that reports of a man being arrested in 2022 for sexual assaults in prison was "baseless," but several days later, Hong Kong police confirmed the report. [20]

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References

Flag of the Correctional Service Department before 1 July 1997. Flag of the Correctional Service Department before 1st of July, 1997.gif
Flag of the Correctional Service Department before 1 July 1997.
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