The Macao government is to launch a video conference service to facilitate contacts between prisoners and their family members, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Prison Director Lee Kam Cheong as saying that the Macao Prison Information Service Center will enable inmates to stay in touch with their family members without the latter having to travel to the prison.

Lee also reportedly said the video conference system is to be coordinated with prison services in other countries and regions in the near future.

The system, covering services as the appointment booking, document application and general enquiry, will be run by five prison staff members and will be open from Monday through Friday.

The Macao Prison, the sole prison in the region with a population of 470,000, currently houses some 900 inmates.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2005)