The city’s new prison in the hamlet of Ka Ho in Coloane is expected to gradually come into use this year, with its administrative department set to be the first to relocate, Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council Deputy Convener Wong Leong Kuan quoted Coloane Prison Chief Lam Kam Sau as saying during a regular closed-door meeting yesterday.
Wong made the remarks during a press briefing after the government-appointed council’s meeting at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van, with the attendance of Lam and a Correctional Services Bureau (DSC) official.
During the press briefing, Wong updated the media about the latest development of the new prison project, which lies adjacent to Estrada da Barragem de Ka Ho, covering a lot area of 42,209 square metres and a total gross floor area of about 74,973 square metres, 2.5 times and 2.1 times those of the current prison areas of about 16,800 square metres and 35,000 square metres respectively.
Macau’s current prison complex, which opened in 1990, is located near Coloane Village.
The new prison project, comprising a total of five phases, got off the ground in 2010, with the fourth and fifth phases of its weak current engineering system and setting-up of its outdoor facilities currently in progress, while its building constructions, including transportation networks, watchtowers, power stations and prison cells, as well as administration building, staff training building and staff dormitory facilities, were completed between 2016 and last year.
According to Wong, the current prison has a maximum capacity of 2,041 inmates. Wong pointed out that the number of prisoners stood at 1,366 as of the end of last year, while the maximum capacity for the new prison amounts to 2,704, of which 2,313 are in the male section and 391 in the female section. The projected capacity of the new prison could meet the authorities’ expected demand for the next five to 10 years, i.e., until 2033, Wong quoted Lam as saying.
The relocation of the new prison will be divided into three phases, with its trial operation to take place for three months, Wong quoted Lam as pointing out. However, when asked when the detainees would be moved from the old to the new prison, Wong did not give a specific timetable, but stressed the need for training and the requirement for other security services to cooperate with the relocation.
Coloane Prison Chief Lam Kam Sau addresses the Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council’s regular meeting yesterday at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van. – Photo: Yuki Lei
