Hong Kong Correctional Services
Encyclopedia
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 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 the Gaol was created. [This seems incorrect, as there were Superintendents of the Gaol prior to 1879. Example: CO129/108, pp 296-298 1865-03-15. SUPERINTENDENTS OF VICTORIA GAOL - SALARY INCREASE]
Source: Correctional Services Department [Hong Kong]
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The Commissioner of Correctional Services reports to the Secretary for Security
Secretary for Security
The Secretary for Security is the member of the Hong Kong Government in charge of the Security Bureau, which is responsible for public safety, security, and immigration matters....
.
Although the Chief Magistrate 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
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
until 1879 when the role of Superintendent of the Gaol was created. [This seems incorrect, as there were Superintendents of the Gaol prior to 1879. Example: CO129/108, pp 296-298 1865-03-15. SUPERINTENDENTS OF VICTORIA GAOL - SALARY INCREASE]
Ranks
As with all of the HK Disciplined Forces, British-pattern rank insignia continue to be utilised, with the only change being the exchange of the St. Edward's Crown for the Bauhinia flower crest in 1997.- Commissioner of Correctional Services (similar insignia to a UK GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
) - 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 ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
) - Senior Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK Lieutenant-Colonel)
- Superintendent (similar insignia to a UK MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
) - Chief Officer (similar insignia to a UK Captain)
- Principal Officer (similar insignia to a UK LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
with a bar beneath) - Officer (similar insignia to a UK LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
) - Probationary Officer (similar insignia to a UK Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
) - Assistant Officer Class I (similar insignia to a UK SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
) - Assistant Officer Class II (similar to a UK PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
)
Facilities
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Shek Pik Shek Pik Shek Pik is an area located along the southwestern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. When the Shek Pik Reservoir was built, villages at Shek Pik were demolished and the villagers were relocated to other parts of Lantau Island and to Tsuen Wan... Prison |
Shek Pik | 1974-present | Maximum security institution | 426 | active |
| Sha Tsui Detention Centre | Sek Pik | 1972-present | Minimum security institution opened in 1972 | 146 | active |
| Ma Po Ping Prison | Ma Po Ping | 1966-present | Medium security institution | 650 | active |
| Tong Fuk Centre | Tong Fuk | 1966-present | Medium security institution | 400 | active |
| La Chi Rehab Centre | Sek Pik | 2002-present | Rehab Centre | 70 | active |
| Chi Ma Wan Correctional Institution | Chi Ma Wan | 1994-present | Medium security institution | 312 female prisoners | active |
| Chi Sun Correctional Institution | Chi Ma Wan | 2005-present | Minimum security institution | 350 female prisoners | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Bauhinia House | Tai Lam Chung | 1984-present | Half-way House | 70 | active; moved to current location in 2002 |
| Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre | 2005-present | Minimum security institution | 384 | active | |
| Lai King Training Centre | Kwai Chung | 2008-present | Minimum security institution | 200 female inmates | active |
| Chi Lan Rehab Centre | Kwai Chung | 2008-present | rehab centre | 40 | active; relocated from Shek O (2002-2008) |
| Pik Uk Correctional Institution | Sai Kung | 1975-present | Maximum security institution | 385 | active |
| Pik Uk Prison | Sai Kung | 1975-present | Minimum security prison | 600 | active |
| Siu Lam Pscyhiatric Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 1972-present | Maximum security institution | 262 | active |
| Tai Lam Centre for Women | Tai Lam Chung | 1969-present | Maximum security institution | 263 | active |
| Tai Lam Correctional Institution | Tai Lam Chung | 1980-present | Minimum security institution | 748 | active |
| Tai Lam Drug Addiction Treatment Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 1969-present | Drug Addiction Treatment Centre | N/A | active |
| Wai Lam Rehab Centre | Tai Lam Chung | 2002-present | Minimum security institution | 24 | active |
| Lo Wu Correctional Institution | Lo Wu | 1997-2008 | minimum security institution | 182 | closed; re-built at another location |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre | Lai Chi Kok | 1977-present | Maximum security institution | 1084 | active |
| Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution | Lai Chi Kok | 2006-present | Medium security institution | 600 female prisoners | active |
| Lai Chi Kok Prison for Women | Lai Chi Kok | 1932-2006 | Medium security institution | N/A | closed |
| Lai Hang Rehab Centre | Tai Wo Ping | 2002-present | Rehab Centre | 70 | active |
| Phoenix House | Tai Wo Ping | 1983-present | Half-way house | 40 | active |
| Pelican House | Tai Wo Ping | 1995-present | Half-way house | 70 | active; moved to location in 2004 |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Cape Collison Correctional Institution | Cape Collison | 1958-present | Training centre | 192 | active |
| Chi Lan Rehab Centre | Shek O | 2002-2008 | rehab centre | 40 | relocated to Kwai Chung 2008 |
| Green Island Reception Centre | Green Island | 1970s-present | immigration detention centre | 700 | inactive |
| Ma Hang Prison | Stanley | 1974-present | Minimum security institution | 220 mainly elderly prisoners | active |
| Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1999-present | Medium security institution | 424 | active |
| Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution | Tai Tam Gap | 1980-present | Minimum security institution | ? | relocated as Lai King Correctional Institution in 2008 |
| Tung Tau Correctional Institution | Stanley | 1982-present | Minimum security institution | 500 | active |
| Victoria Prison Victoria Prison Victoria Prison , or Victoria Gaol was Hong Kong's first prison. A testimony to the evolution of Hong Kong's correctional services, it had been the centre of the local prison system until it ceased operation in December 2005.... |
Central | 1841-2005 | Maximum security institution | 800? | 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 Prison Stanley Prison is one of the five maximum security prisons in Hong Kong and is currently the oldest institution still in service... |
Stanley | 1937-present | Maximum security institution | 1544 | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Lai Sun Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau Hei Ling Chau Hei Ling Chau , formerly Hayling Chau, is an island of Hong Kong, located east of Silver Mine Bay and Chi Ma Wan of Lantau Island. It is administratively part of the Islands District.-Geography:... |
1984-present | Minimum security institution | 182 | now functions as a Pre-release Vocational Training Centre for adult prisoners |
| Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution | Hei Ling Chau | 1984-present | Medium security institution | 532 | active |
| Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre and Annex | Hei Ling Chau | 1975-present | Drug Addiction Treatment Centre | 688; 236 in annex | active |
| Name of Facility | Location | Years of Operation | Facility Type | Capacity | Status |
| Kai Tak Camp | Kai Tak Airport, Kowloon | 1973-1998 | Vietnamese detention centre | ? | closed |
| Shek Kong Airfield Shek Kong Airfield The Shek Kong Airfield , ICAO:VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong/Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China .... |
Sek Kong | 1988-1992 | temporary refugee centre | ? | closed and return to RAF; now PLAAF base |
| High Island Detention Centre | High Island High Island, Hong Kong High Island or Leung Shuen Wan is a former island in the southeast of Sai Kung Peninsula, Hong Kong. The island was connected to the peninsula by two dams to enclose the Kwun Mun Channel and form the High Island Reservoir. The construction of the dam spanned 10 years from 1969 to 1979... , NT |
1988-1998 | Vietnamese detention centre | 7000 | Closed; site now Hong Kong Jockey Club High Island Training Camp |
| Whitehead Detention Centre | Starfish Bay, Ma On Shan Ma On Shan Ma On Shan may refer to the following places in Hong Kong:* Ma On Shan , mountain in the New Territories* Ma On Shan , an extension of Sha Tin New Town in the New Territories on the foot of Ma On Shan mountain... |
1988-1998 | Vietnamese detention centre | 5500 | closed; site being redeveloped |
| Tai A Chau Detention Centre | Tai A Chau Tai A Chau Tai A Chau is an uninhabited island of Hong Kong, part of the Soko Islands group, located south of Lantau Island. It is referred to as South Soko Island in some media articles.-Geography:... (Soko Group) |
1988-1996 | detention centre | 5500 | closed; plans are to re-develop site for tourism |
Crest
The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols:- St Edward's Crown replace with BauhiniaBauhiniaBauhinia is a genus of more than 200 species of flowering plants in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers, Swiss-French botanists....
- Laurel wreath added with badge with wording Correctional Services Hong Kong" with Correctional Services 懲教署 circling a Compass roseCompass roseA compass rose, sometimes called a windrose, is a figure on a compass, map, nautical chart or monument used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions — North, East, South and West - and their intermediate points. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional...
- Motto added with wording "Hong Kong 香港"
Source: Correctional Services Department [Hong Kong]