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. ==Ranks==

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. ==Equipment==

Corrections guards presently wear green uniforms. Prison vehicles are blue and yellow and have the logo on them. ==Facilities==

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. Prisoner demographics 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. Reading materials 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. Ethics College 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 femalethe latter joining remotely from Lo Wu Correctional Institutionwho enrolled in a one-year course for an applied education diploma. 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. ==Crest==

The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the colonial symbols: • 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" ==Staff associations==

• 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 ==CSD in popular media==

• 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 '''' (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. == Controversies ==

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. A spokesperson for the United States said that there were now In March 2021, Apple Daily reported that sources told the newspaper that the CSD's "secret unit" handled the detention of Andy Li, who was arrested for attempting to flee to Taiwan. In July 2023, 7 CSD officers were arrested, with allegations that they had gang raped a woman. In January 2024, the CSD claimed that reports of a man being arrested in 2022 for sexual assaults in prison was "baseless," but several days later, Hong Kong police confirmed the report. ==Gallery==

File:HKCEC 香港 Wanchai 灣仔 No 1 Expo Drive 博覽道一號 香港會議展覽中心 Hong Kong Education & Careers Expo 教育及職業博覽 n other Exhibitions July 2021 SS2 12.jpg|CSD staffs in the 2021 Education and Career Fair exhibition File:Lam Cheuk Ting and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre 20210303.jpg|CSD guards escorting Lam Cheuk-ting and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre File:Joshua Wong Chi-fung prison in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre 202103.png|CSD guards escorting Joshua Wong in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre File:CSD sMKW AM5877@1.jpg File:猛獅TGL囚車.jpg File:HKCS vehicle Outside The Court of Final Appeal 20201231.jpg File:香港各界回應7警被判入獄兩年 01.jpg File:HKCSD - Seaward.JPG|CSD ship ==References==