A PAY rise is about to be awarded to Hong Kong's 10,736 prison inmates, many of whom are mainland illegal immigrants who can now earn more money behind bars than by toiling for long hours in factories and fields in China.
But discerning prisoners craving reminders of life outside Her Majesty's lock-ups will soon find the benefits of a higher salary largely eroded by inflationary pressures on snacks and other popular fare.
Of the 70 items officially available in Hong Kong prison canteens - including fish-coated peanuts, hair cream, baby oil and lip balm - 67 become more expensive tomorrow.
Only packets of cigarettes will remain as cheap in prison canteens as last year, thanks to Financial Secretary Sir Hamish Macleod's Budget decision not to impose higher taxes.
The biggest winners from the simultaneous rise in prison earnings and prison canteen fare will be canny non-smoking mainlanders, who for the first time are in a position to save almost $4,000 each for a sentence lasting a year.
An across-the-board rise, the first since March last year, will be announced next week and will see earnings go up by between three and five per cent. And, of course, there are no taxes.
Women prisoners earn just as much as the men and shrewd couples from the mainland who pool their prison pay can go back to China with thousands of dollars, depending on the length of their sentences.
