Overcrowding in Hong Kong's women's prisons has caused the government to exchange a prison for young male offenders for one that had held women.

The Correctional Services Department says the number of male inmates has dropped in the past decade while the number of female inmates has been rising. Women's prisons, designed to hold 2,200 prisoners, are now holding 2,278. The Tai Lam Centre for Women is in the worst situation, holding 80 percent more than its capacity.

The department is also building new prisons to solve the problem.

(Ta Kung Pao)