Hong Kong prisoners boost their economic contribution as numbers decline
Smaller jail population turned out goods worth HK$100 million more than in previous year, but ‘Long Hair’ urges review of ‘outdated’ practices
Prisoners were more productive than ever last year, contributing more than HK$400 million to the city’s economy, up almost HK$100 million from the previous 12 months.
Latest figures from the Correctional Services Department revealed in the Legislative Council yesterday show that in the past five years as the city’s prison population has dropped to a new record low, the value of products made and services provided by prisoners has steadily grown, bucking economic woes elsewhere.
Last year, the city’s 8,797 prisoners made products and provided services with a total commercial value of HK$461 million.
The police and fire services buy many of the products made by prisoners. Other buyers 8include the Highways Department, the Food and Environmental 8Hygiene Department, and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
CSD’s spokeswoman said the commercial value of products made and services provided by inmates’ productivity was higher last year was higher than that in 2010 because prisoners were encouraged to receive vocational training. A big order from the Hospital Authority also contributed to the rise.
The goods include office furniture, staff uniforms, hospital linen, filter masks, fibreglass litter containers, traffic signs, metal railings, precast concrete kerbs for infrastructure projects, and laminated books for public libraries and local universities. printing products, file jackets and envelopes.
