Tang defends price tag of prison rebuild

Ayra Wang

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung hit back at criticisms over the huge reconstruction price tag for the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, saying authorities have a clear conscience and will utilize resources cautiously.

Speaking after a Legislative Council security meeting, Tang said he will invite lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, who slammed the administration for building a luxurious five-star hotel for inmates, to visit the reception center.

"Ho is a good friend of mine and a lawmaker who dares to speak up," Tang said. "I appreciate his opinions, which make me realize that there were some misunderstandings [of this project] in society."

Tang said the claim that the administration is going to refurbish the reception center as a five-star hotel was false and that the number of facilities will not exceed the current ones after renovations.

The Legco's public works sub-committee passed the proposed HK$5.5 billion funding for reconstructing the center last Wednesday to the finance committee, even though Ho questioned that some proposed facilities, especially an additional religious room, would be too luxurious.

Tang yesterday said the reconstruction is necessary to upgrade the aging facilities and expand the center's capacity.

He said the number of detainees has doubled to 3,000 in the past 10 years, and the center now houses nearly 1,600, exceeding its capacity of 1,500.

"It's not ideal that we have to temporarily allocate 1,000 people to other correctional facilities," Tang said.

When asked if the cost is too high, Tang said excluding the cost to whittle away hillside parts, the cost per foot is similar to that of the reconstruction of Tai Lam Centre for Women in 2011, which cost HK$946 million in total.

He added that it is inappropriate to compare the spending on the reconstruction of the center to building a five-star hotel.

"It may cost HK$300,000 to HK$800,000 to reinstall a gate," Tang said, adding that five-star hotels have no need to install such high-security facilities.

Meanwhile, Tang also said the administration is looking at enacting the Basic Law Article 23 at full speed, which would complement the National Security Law.

He told lawmakers the SAR aims to finish the legislation by next year and will organize public consultation at an appropriate time.

Authorities will enhance promotion and reassure investors about the law, Tang explained, adding that the national security laws in the United Kingdom are "harsher" than the ones in Hong Kong.

His remarks came as lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun suggested the administration should replace the national security law with Article 23 to "reduce spicy political measures," as the international community believes Hong Kong attaches too much importance to national security issues, which has led to unnecessary sanctions and criticisms.

But Tang said criticisms and sanctions from Western countries were expected, and the SAR will not give up doing the right thing due to slander.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com