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Crime in Hong Kong
OpinionComment
Winnie Tang
Winnie Tang

Opinion | How a smart ‘super prison’ can help Hong Kong’s wayward youth and add value to society

  • Consolidating correctional facilities into one central ‘smart prison’ would help improve efficiency and ease persistent staff shortages
  • Wider society would also benefit from having more land freed up for housing while enhanced rehabilitation can cut costs associated with criminal cases

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Inmates show off their iPads at Stanley Prison on June 5, 2020. The “smart prison” project allows inmates to learn skills they will need to succeed when they eventually return to the outside world. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Winnie Tang
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) is facing numerous challenges, including ageing facilities, a high staff turnover and handling highly educated young people remanded into custody. To create greater value for all, here are three suggestions to address these issues.
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First, build a smart “superjail” that would also release about 100 hectares (247 acres) of land. The department has already built one smart prison, which opened in May, at the site of the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution to help optimise staffing resources.

While it can only hold 160 inmates – just 2 per cent of the more than 7,000 people incarcerated in Hong Kong – it can be a small test for the CSD. Instead of improving facilities one by one, I suggest the department consolidate all its correctional institutions, rehabilitation centres and prisons into one new, hi-tech “super prison”.

Back in 2003, a proposal to build a smart “superjail” on Hei Ling Chau that could accommodate more than 7,000 inmates was discussed, but it was ultimately shelved amid strong opposition. Yet, Hei Ling Chau is one of the best choices because of its proximity to Mui Wo, Peng Chau and Cheung Chau.

With a superjail, the CSD could centralise manpower resources to improve flexibility. At the same time, the project would allow the sites of existing facilities to be released. The resulting available land could be used to help alleviate the housing shortage.

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The ‘dead volcanoes, calves and piglets’ behind the walls of Hong Kong’s prisons

The ‘dead volcanoes, calves and piglets’ behind the walls of Hong Kong’s prisons

Second, we should adhere to the “Nelson Mandela Rules” to respect inmates’ privacy.

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