Shek Pik Prison
{{short description|Prison on Lantau Island, Hong Kong}}
{{Infobox prison
| name = Shek Pik Prison
| image = Shek_Pik_Prison_(Hong_Kong).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Exterior view
| image_map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Hong Kong
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Hong Kong
| pushpin_label =
| map_dot_mark =
| location = 47 Shek Pik Reservoir Road
Lantau Island, Hong Kong
| coordinates = {{coord|22.2244|113.8949}}
| status = Operational
| classification = Maximum security
| capacity = 426
| population =
| population_as_of =
| opened = {{start date|1984}}
| closed =
| former_name =
| managed_by = Correctional Services Department
| director = Tse Kwok-wai, Senior Superintendent
| governor =
| warden =
| website =
| prisoners =
| embedded =
}}
{{infobox chinese
|showflag=y
|order=ts
|t=石壁監獄
|s=石壁监狱
|j=sek6 bik3 gaam1 juk6
|y=sehk bīk gāam yuhk
|p=Shí Bì Jiānyù
}}
Shek Pik Prison ({{zh|石壁監獄}}) is a prison in Hong Kong, located at 47 Shek Pik Reservoir Road, Shek Pik, Lantau Island. It was built in 1984, and is managed by the Hong Kong Correctional Services. The prison is used to contain prisoners with medium to long sentences, as well as those sentenced to life imprisonment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2077873/hong-kongs-prison-system-explained|title=Hong Kong's prison system explained|date=2017-03-11|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-06-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/correctional_services.pdf|title=Hong Kong: The facts Correctional Services|website=gov.hk|access-date=June 13, 2019}}
History
Shek Pik Prison officially opened in 1984 as a maximum-security facility with a capacity of 466 prisoners, helping to relieve Stanley Prison. It cost approximately HK$135 million to construct. The prison was built with high-tech security features including a 160-camera video surveillance system and infrared perimeter alarm, as well as a solar energy water heating system, the government's largest such solar energy system at that time.{{cite book |editor1-last=Knight |editor1-first=Bill |title=Hong Kong 1985: A review of 1984 |date=1985 |publisher=Government Printer |location=Hong Kong |page=223}}
Description
Located below the dam of the Shek Pik Reservoir, the prison remains a maximum-security institution. It now has an official capacity of 426.{{cite web |title=Shek Pik Prison |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_lan_spp.html |publisher=Correctional Services Department |access-date=8 February 2021}}
As a well fortified prison, Shek Pik had advanced infrared perimeter alarm systems, wireless communication networks, and a closed-circuit television system worth over HK$4 million upon its initial operation, including over 160 surveillance cameras and 36 television monitors in the control room. {{cite news |date=1984-04-29 |title=新監獄耗資一億三千萬 專收容嚴重罪犯 最先進保安設備 |work=香港工商日報}} The prison also had the second-largest solar energy system in Hong Kong at the time, covering an area of 480 square meters, primarily to provide hot water for the prison.{{cite news |date=1984-04-29 |title=石壁監獄極現代化 保安設備精密先進 專門收容嚴重罪犯 |work=工商晚報}} Like other large correctional institutions, inmates are required to participate in "correctional industries" related work, and the prison has large-scale woodworking and laundry workshops, which are the largest among all correctional institutions in Hong Kong.{{cite book |author1=冼樂嘉 |url=https://www.csd.gov.hk/images/doc/pub/pub_off/Full_main_BR.pdf |title=香港懲教 任重道遠 |author2=呂麗娟 |date=March 1999 |publisher=香港懲教署 |isbn=9628513044 |location=香港 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114045353/http://www.csd.gov.hk/images/doc/pub/pub_off/Full_main_BR.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-14 |accessdate=2024-07-31 |url-status=dead}}
Notable prisoners
- Lam Kor-wan – convicted serial killer
- Edward Leung – political activist{{cite news |last1=Lam |first1=Jeffie |title=Hong Kong's pro-independence activist Edward Leung appeals to youth to shun hatred while protesting over extradition bill in note from prison |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3020526/hong-kongs-pro-independence-activist-edward-leung-appeals |work=South China Morning Post |date=29 July 2019}}
- Nadeem Razaq – convicted serial killer, committed suicide on 3 November 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2042690/killer-three-hong-kong-prostitutes-found-hanged-his-cell|title=Killer of three prostitutes in Hong Kong found hanged in his cell|date=2016-11-03|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-06-13}}
- Benny Tai – political activist{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Holmes |title=Jailed Hong Kong democracy leader Benny Tai sent to solitary confinement over strike action |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2019/08/08/jailed-hong-kong-democracy-leader-benny-tai-sent-solitary-confinement-strike-action/ |work=Hong Kong Free Press |date=8 August 2019}}
- Joshua Wong – political activist{{cite news |title=Jailed Joshua Wong 'questioned without a lawyer' |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1569156-20210107.htm |publisher=RTHK |date=7 January 2021}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lantau Island}}
{{Islands District}}
{{China prisons}}