Commissioner of Correctional Services Kwok Leung-ming says redeveloping old institutions will top his department's agenda this year.

Mr Kwok today told reporters that prison overpopulation will be alleviated with the commissioning of the Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institution and the redevelopment of Lo Wu Correctional Institution in 2010.

"In July, 2006, our plan to redevelop the Lo Wu Correctional Institution site into three penal institutions was endorsed by the Legislative Council's Finance Committee. The project will provide an additional 1,200 penal places at the existing site, bringing the total penal places there to 1,400.

"Construction is scheduled to start in April and expected to be completed by the end of 2009. The new institutions will start taking inmates in 2010, greatly relieving overpopulation in penal institutions."

Mr Leung said the penal population at institutions for young male offenders has been decreasing in the past decade despite the overcrowding situation at young female institutions.

The department will swap Lai King Training Centre for young male offenders with Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution for young female offenders. Conversion works will start soon and be completed by the end of 2008.

On the risks and needs assessment for local inmates with sentences of two years or above, Mr Kwok said rehabilitative programmes will be implemented this year.

"We will implement the protocol in stages with regular reviews to ensure it is gaining the best results."