Seeking relief: Commissioner of Correctional Services Pang Sung-yuen says 300 more penal places will be introduced to ease overcrowding.

The Correctional Services Department will implement a number of projects to provide 300 more penal places to ease overcrowding.

In his year-end review today Commissioner of Correctional Services Pang Sung-yuen said overcrowding remains the department's biggest challenge, stretching its manpower, facilities and other resources.

Mr Pang said with only 11,595 penal places, there are 13,000 prisoners and 3,000 ex-prisoners in the department's custody and supervision, representing an occupancy rate of 114%.

High occupancy

The occupancy rate of female institutions has reached a staggering 159%, while male institutions stand at 106%. The occupancy rate of Tai Lam Centre for Women is 285% and Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre is 166%.

Mr Pang said the new projects will provide an extra 96 places at Chi Ma Wan and Chi Sun Correctional Institutions, and 212 at Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution after the reprovisioning of Victoria Prison.

"In the long term, the administration is examining the possibility of redeveloping Lo Wu Correctional Institution and other options to solve the problem of overcrowding and insufficient facilities," he said.

The department has received the green light to recruit 45 staff to fill vacancies, among them 32 officers, five industrial officers, seven instructors and one clinical psychologist.

He added that the overall recidivism rate has fallen to 48.2%, a record low in recent years.