The Correctional Services Department (CSD) said on Monday that it's adopting measures to ease overcrowding at some institutions.

During its year-end press conference, the department said the number of people in remand last year stood at almost 19,000, up 3 percent from 2024.

The average daily penal population rose by eight percent to over 10,300 people, and the average daily occupancy rate rose by seven percentage points, to 92 percent.

The most overcrowded facilities included the Tung Tau Correctional Institution, with an occupancy rate of 146 percent; while Stanley Prison was at 132 percent.

To ease the problem, the department said that it has been reallocating persons in remand to different institutions.

It added that it has also put in place an automatic drone patrol and monitoring system at six penal facilities to strengthen security and boost efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Correctional Services, Wong Kwok-hing, said around 300 people who are currently in custody had committed national security crimes, or offences linked to the 2019 protests.

He added that nearly 2,000 people who were convicted in relation to these cases have already been released.

Wong noted that some inmates, upon their release, had gone on voluntary mainland tours and benefited greatly from them.

He said the department plans to arrange more such tours to help rehabilitated offenders develop a stronger sense of national identity.

"The inmates were able to learn a lot more about the country's latest developments, which are vastly different from what they had in mind," Wong said.

"They have also told our colleagues that the exchanges were greatly useful. We will arrange more rehabilitating persons to go on mainland tours."



Edited by Priscilla Ng