We refer to the letter on smart prisons (“How well do ‘smart prisons’ protect inmate privacy and mental health?”, November 28) and agree that the government should protect privacy and mental health while pursuing the adoption of new technology. Considering the complaints about the quality of life of prisoners in Hong Kong, we believe that the Correctional Services Department should adopt a series of lo-tech solutions so prisoners can live in reasonable comfort while in custody. As a result of global warming , Hong Kong’s summer temperatures have steadily increased. In response to a welfare petition with 100,000 signatures amid the hot weather this May, the CSD said it had been installing new gates and windows in phases to improve ventilation systems. We do not understand why such less costly measures are not prioritised over the smart prison project which has a price tag of over HK$36.68 million (US$4.7 million). Despite the sweltering summer, the department allows male, but not female, prisoners to wear shorts, a rule that has been challenged in a judicial review application. Considering the Court of Final Appeal ruling that forcing male prisoners to have short haircuts is discriminatory, we urge the department to revise the rule against female prisoners wearing shorts immediately to avoid wasting public resources on lawsuits. According to the department website, each prisoner is provided with appropriate clothing and blankets during cold weather. In response to our enquiries about the room temperature of the prison cells during winters, the department says it does not possess such information. When the cold weather warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Home Affairs Department opens temporary shelters with room heating. We believe the CSD should follow this example to ensure the basic comfort of prisoners during cold weather. Despite the widely reported controversies, the CSD has not received any complaint from prisoners regarding their quality of life during bad weather. Perhaps prisoners are not willing to voice their dissatisfaction because it could take as many as 18 weeks for the Complaints Investigation Unit to process a complaint. It is clear that more timely responses to prisoners’ feedback are needed regarding their living conditions. While the government’s attempt to build smart prisons is admirable, a range of lo-tech measures should also be taken to ensure prisoners’ basic welfare. Chi Wai Hung and Nga Man Mak, Kowloon Tong