Press Releases

Lists of designated places of detention, remand homes, places of refuge updated

Two amendment Orders and a set of amendment Rules which seek to update the lists of designated places of detention, remand homes and places of refuge will be published in the Gazette on Thursday (September 30).

The Places of Detention (Juvenile Offenders) Appointment (Consolidation) (Amendment) Order 1999 and the Remand Home (Amendment) Rules 1999 seek to remove the Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home and the Pui Yin Juvenile Home from the lists of designated places of detention and remand homes.

These amendments are necessary as the Ma Tau Wai Girls' Homes has ceased to serve as a place of detention and a remand home since 1994 and the Pui Yin Juvenile Home was closed in July this year as part of a rationalisation exercise for residential services for young offenders.

The amendment Order and Rules also rename the "Begonia Road Boys' Home", which provides accommodation for both boys and girls on remand, as the "Begonia Road Juvenile Home".

Young persons and children aged 16 or below may be detained in a designated place of detention if they are found guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment.

Another amendment Order - the Protection of Children and Juveniles (Places of Refuge) (Amendment) Order 1999 - seeks to remove the Begonia Road Boys' Home and Pui Yin Juvenile Home from the list of places of refuge.  Both of them have not served as places of refuge in recent years to accommodate children or juveniles in need of care or protection.

The amendment Orders and relevant amendment Rules will be tabled at the Legislative Council meeting on October 6, 1999.

End/Tuesday, September 28, 1999

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