Security is tight here at Pik Uk Correctional Institution in Sai Kung. Razor wire tops high concrete walls. Chain-link fences are fitted with heavy-duty locks. This maximum security institution was established in 1975.
Pik Uk Correctional Institution houses around 200 young male offenders. They have committed minor transgressions and major crimes. The prison can hold 385 people. It houses male young remands and male young prisoners.
The mood here can be tense. Small talk is rare. Silence often prevails. Guards watch every moment. Each section of Pik Uk Correctional Institution requires a lock and key.
But there’s more to Pik Uk Correctional Institution than meets the eye. This isn’t just a place of confinement. It’s a place of rehabilitation.
The prison has a rugby programme. It teaches touch rugby to inmates. This programme aims to help rehabilitate them. It works in conjunction with the Hong Kong Rugby Union.
One young offender is serving eight years for drug trafficking. He says the programme has multifaceted benefits. He gets much out of it.
Let’s head up a flight of stairs. We’ll reach the football field. It is a hard green concrete pitch. Here inmates participate in the prison’s programmes.
Imagine these young men. They are running. They are passing the ball. They are working as a team. They are learning discipline and respect. They are building a better future for themselves. The programme aims to give inmates new skills and a sense of purpose.
In 1986 the Pik Uk Correctional Institution for young prisoners administered school exams. Government experts supervised them. This shows Pik Uk Correctional Institution’s commitment to education.
You can visit Pik Uk Correctional Institution. The Correctional Services Department offers e-booking for social visits. Registered users can book visits online. This service allows booking up to seven days in advance. You can change, cancel or enquire about appointments.
There is also an e-ordering service for approved hand-in articles. Registered users can purchase items for people in custody online. The items are delivered directly to the correctional institution.
Visiting hours for remands are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Convicted prisoners can be visited from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are no visits on Monday and Wednesday afternoons except for public holidays. Visitors should arrive no earlier than 8:30 a.m. They must register 30 minutes before visiting hours end.
Official visits can be booked online too. This service operates from Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday visits are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There are no visits on Saturday afternoons and public holidays.
Pik Uk Correctional Institution plays a vital role. It provides security and rehabilitation. It helps young offenders turn their lives around. It contributes to a safer Hong Kong.