Jail proponents ARE prisoners to detail
The LoDown has obtained the minutes of a meeting between the concern group Save the Shoreline and Security Bureau officials over the controversial super-jail plan for Hei Ling Chau. Some of the questions and answers are remarkable.
The Green guy: Why can't the prison be built in China?
The government guy: Then we would have to agree to let China build one here.
The Green guy: Why can't we just repatriate illegal immigrant prisoners to reduce the population?
The government guy: IIs are only in jail if they commit a crime. There must be a punishment here or there will be no deterrent.
The Green guy: If the problem is [prison] overpopulation, why not try a house-arrest scheme for Hong Kong citizens as a cheap alternative.
The government guy: Hong Kong is so crowded that house arrest won't work. They can continue to live a normal life. We did an evaluation in the late 1990s and this was the conclusion.
Our government officials must be credited for their tireless explanation to people on why the prison should be built on the island. Their patience is phenomenal.
