Pang Sung Yuen's view on Victoria Prison after he became the Commissioner

After Pang Sung Yuen was promoted to be the Commissioner of Correctional Services, he inspected Victoria Prison at least once in every 3 months. During his visit, he took special attention to the atmosphere and the relationship between the staff and the prisoners. As an experienced correctional services officer, Pang could spot the problems easily and corrected them. The Justice of Peace accepts complains from prisoners as well. Some prisoners reported that they discovered cracks in the prison buildings caused by the pile driving operations near the prison. The Correctional Services Department and the Architectural Services Department had monitored the situation closely, but they could not do anything to alter the prison building structure since Victoria Prison is a declared monument of Hong Kong.
Victoria Prison is part of the Central Police Station Compound, which was built in 1842, the year after the British Colonial Government was established in Hong Kong. It was the first building the new government constructed. The prison reflects the Victorian penal system and the modifications of the prison building over the years also shows the Hong Kong penal system is improving. Pang Sung Yuen believes that the Victoria Prison Open Day after the de-commission is a good way for the public to know more about the Hong Kong penal system. In addition, this first open day had extra meaning since it was co-hosted by the Correctional Services Department and the Community Chest of Hong Kong as a fundraising campaign. Pang remembered that the guests all gather and had a “Royal Dinner” (the meal in prison was nicknamed Royal Meal back in the colonial days) and everyone enjoyed it very much.