Correctional Services Department

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.{{cite web |author=Chau Hing-wah and Siu Lai-kuen |date=2011 |title=History of Hong Kong Correctional Services (1921–2011) |url=http://google.com/books/about/?id=WNkWMwEACAAJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526192149/https://books.google.com/books/about/?id=WNkWMwEACAAJ&hl=en |archive-date=2020-05-26 |access-date=2020-05-21 |publisher=Hong Kong Correctional Services Department}}{{cite web |date=2012 |title=Annual Review 2012 |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/annualreview/2012/ebook/files_tc/csd_ar2012_tc.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521180924/https://www.csd.gov.hk/annualreview/2012/ebook/files_tc/csd_ar2012_tc.pdf |archive-date=2020-05-21 |publisher=Hong Kong Correctional Services Department}}{{cite web |date=27 Dec 2011 |title=90 years ago, prisoners had better meals than the general populace |url=https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20111227/15927930 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521175351/https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20111227/15927930 |archive-date=21 May 2020 |publisher=Apple Daily (Hong Kong)}}{{cite web |author=Kevin Sinclair and Lui Lai-kuen |date=March 1999 |title=Society's Guardians: A history of correctional services in Hong Kong 1841–1999 |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/images/doc/pub/pub_off/Full_main_BR.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521184419/https://www.csd.gov.hk/images/doc/pub/pub_off/Full_main_BR.pdf |archive-date=2020-05-21 |publisher=Kevin Sinclair and Associates Limited}}{{cite web |title=Early History |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/about/about_history/abt_his_early.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404190255/https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/about/about_history/abt_his_early.html |archive-date=2018-04-04 |publisher=Hong Kong Correctional Services Department}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=560 |title=International Encyclopaedia of Uniform Insignia, Hong Kong Correctional Services |access-date=2014-10-27 |archive-date=2014-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027221125/http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=560 |url-status=live }}

Corrections guards presently wear green uniforms. Prison vehicles are blue and yellow and have the logo on them.{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/30/hong-kong-teen-activist-jailed-over-china-flag-insult |title=Hong Kong teen activist jailed for China flag 'insult' |access-date=2021-06-03 |archive-date=2021-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603054907/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/30/hong-kong-teen-activist-jailed-over-china-flag-insult |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Prisons in Hong Kong}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Safe Custody {{!}} Correctional Services Department 2021 Annual Review |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/annualreview/2021/web/en/chapter-3.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Hong Kong Correctional Service Department |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414030255/https://www.csd.gov.hk/annualreview/2021/web/en/chapter-3.html |url-status=live }}

{{Asof|2018||df=}} 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.{{cite web |title=Head 30 — CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT |url=https://www.budget.gov.hk/2019/eng/pdf/head030.pdf |website=The 2019–20 Budget |publisher=Hong Kong Government |access-date=2020-02-21 |archive-date=2020-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221014019/https://www.budget.gov.hk/2019/eng/pdf/head030.pdf |url-status=live }}

{{Asof|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.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2152145/prisoners-hong-kong-who-read-no-chinese-or-english-have-few|title=Prisoners in Hong Kong who read no Chinese or English have few books to choose from behind bars|author=Lam, Jeffie|date=2018-06-24|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=2018-07-19|archive-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719205006/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2152145/prisoners-hong-kong-who-read-no-chinese-or-english-have-few|url-status=live}}

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{{snd}}the latter joining remotely from Lo Wu Correctional Institution{{snd}}who enrolled in a one-year course for an applied education diploma.{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3243457/hong-kong-gets-first-full-time-college-adult-prisoners-pak-sha-wan-correctional-institution|title=Hong Kong gets first full-time college for adult prisoners in Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution|work=South China Morning Post|date=2023-12-01|access-date=2024-08-08}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://hongkongfp.com/2024/08/08/hong-kongs-first-national-security-convict-tong-ying-kit-says-he-was-misled-by-fake-news/|title=Hong Kong's first national security convict Tong Ying-kit says he was 'misled' by fake news|first=Kelly|last=Ho|work=Hong Kong Free Press|date=2024-08-08|access-date=2024-08-08}}

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

The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols:{{Cite web |url=http://flagspot.net/flags/hk_csd.html |title=Correctional Services Department |access-date=2010-10-20 |archive-date=2010-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223024338/http://flagspot.net/flags/hk_csd.html |url-status=live }}

• St Edward's Crown replaced by the stylised Bauhinia flower crest
• Replacement of the Royal cypher by a Compass rose, with the words "Correctional Services 懲教署" circling it
• Addition of a laurel wreath bearing the words "Correctional Services Hong Kong"

• Hong Kong Correctional Services General Union
• Correctional Services Officers' Association
• Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Assistant Officers General Association
• Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association Correctional Services Department Branch
• The Association for the Retired Staff of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department

• TVB drama series Tomorrow Is Another Day was filmed with the full co-operation of the CSD who allowed the film crew to film and access to Stanley and other prisons.
• 2017 Independent Movie {{ill|With Prisoners|zh|同囚}} (同囚) was filmed as a story about prisoners being tortured inhumanly in Sha Tsui Correctional Institution. A claim that the film was based on real events was later retracted.

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.{{Cite web |title=West sounds alarm over consular access in HK – RTHK |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1574089-20210204.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204080105/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1574089-20210204.htm |archive-date=2021-02-04 |access-date=2021-02-04 |website=news.rthk.hk |language=en-gb}}

A spokesperson for the United States said that there were now

"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."

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

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Hong Kong}}

{{Commons category-inline|Hong Kong Correctional Services Department}}

• [https://www.csd.gov.hk/tc_chi/home/home.html Correctional Services Department]
• {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.correctionalservices.gov.hk:80/|title=Hong Kong Correctional Services}}
• [http://www.scmp.com/topics/hong-kong-correctional-services Index of articles] at the South China Morning Post

{{Government of Hong Kong}}

{{Law enforcement in Hong Kong}}

{{Security Bureau (Hong Kong)}}

{{China prisons}}

{{China national security}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Correctional Services Department}}

Correctional Services

Correctional Services

Category:Prison and correctional agencies

Category:Prisons in Hong Kong

Category:Prison and correctional agencies in China