Daily remand population climb above 3,000, new record high since 2000: CSD

The Correctional Services Department (CSD) has reported that over 18,400 individuals were admitted to correctional institutions in 2024,  marking a seven percent increase compared to the previous year.

The average daily remand population also reached 3,650, an 18 percent increase compared to 3,096 persons in 2023, setting a new high since 2000. 

As for the daily prison penal population, the figure climbed from 8,498 in 2023 to 9,550 last year, with the average daily occupancy rate rising from 75 percent to 85 percent.

Meanwhile, the average daily number of non-Hong Kong residents detained under the Immigration Ordinance surged from 185 to 318, showing a 72 percent increase.

The department pointed out that 410 individuals were admitted to correctional institutions last year for offenses relating to the black-clad violence (including riots, unlawful assembly) and their contravention of Hong Kong National Security Law/Safeguarding National Security ordinance, reflecting a 57 percent decrease from previous years.

To address the growing remand population, CSD has deployed a portion of the capacity of individual correctional institutions to admit remands in order to alleviate the reception center's overcrowding, and in-situ partial redevelopment of the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre has begun.

Regarding the city's fiscal deficits, Commissioner of Correctional Services Wong Kwok-hing stated the department would collaborate with relevant policies to manage resources effectively, such as cautious financial management and utilization of technology to improve efficiency.

Wong reported there were 674 vacancies for disciplined staff last year, which accounted for 10.3 percent of the overall establishment of the department, revealing plans to recruit this year.

Wong also criticized the recent attack on disciplined personnel outside Pik Uk Prison, adding that the illegal behavior threatens societal order. He emphasized that all staff would not be intimidated by violence and would continue to enforce prison order and discipline.