Social News
Written by: Yuan Shu
2020-06-08 07:00
Last update date: 2020-06-08 07:00In 2019, Indonesian domestic helper Yuli Riswati was arrested at the Immigration Department for failing to renew her work visa. She was detained at the Qingshan Bay Immigration Center (CIC) for more than a month. She was badly treated and deported. The incident caused social concern; but The situation seems to have not improved so far.
The Qingshan Bay Detainee Rights Concern Group assisting these overstayers or awaiting repatriation, and a number of Legislative Council members, have recently approached many detainees and their families: among them, S, who arrived in Hong Kong due to the war in Nepal, twice for more than a decade Entering the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Center, she was detained for several months each time. She said that she was suppressed on the ground by several male staff during her detention. She also witnessed the detention of three fingers in the event that detainees were not allowed to carry prescription drugs.
The Concern Group pointed out that the environment of the Castle Peak Immigration Center was worse than that of the prison, which caused many detainees physical and mental damage. It called on the community to pay attention to the prison rights of the Castle Peak Immigration Center, called for improving the detention environment and providing relevant training for front-line staff.
Legislative Council members Shao Jiazhen, Zhang Chaoxiong and Zhu Kaidi visited the Qingshan Bay Immigration Center (CIC) in early March this year. They pointed out that the Immigration Department is in charge of "prison thinking" when they are waiting for repatriation, but they say that the detainees are not criminals or belt The guilty body has repeatedly entered the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Center while waiting for the approval of "travel paper". It has to wait in a harsher environment than the prison, causing physical and mental damage to many detainees.
S, who came to Hong Kong due to the war in Nepal, has entered the Qingshan Bay Immigration Center twice in the past. She accused the center of abuse of power. (Photographed by O'Gallery)
Pressed by multiple heterosexual staff on the ground to witness detainee finger necrosis
S, who came to Hong Kong to seek asylum in 2003 due to the war in Nepal, entered CIC twice in 2007 and last year, and was detained for more than a month each time; she said that the problem of CIC abuse was serious. Last year, he was pressed by many male staff of the Immigration Department. On the ground, she felt very insulted. She pointed out that due to injuries to the waist and arms, a few days after entering the CIC, the Immigration Department arranged for her to enter the medical room for a physical examination. There was a male doctor and a female nurse in the clinic. The two asked her to check the clothes except the underwear. At that time, although the medical room had closed the curtains, but there was a gap, the opposite sex staff outside could easily see her body.
She said that she had witnessed detainees being sent to hospital with broken fingers, and then returned to CIC after a successful connection, but the prescription drugs prescribed by doctors were not allowed to be brought into the center. S pointed out that the medical condition of the center was not ideal. The person complained repeatedly, but not only the dismissed finger was necrotic, but also deteriorated to the remaining two fingers, and eventually lost 3 fingers.
NN had only one set of clothes on his body during his detention in CIC, often unable to dry. (Photo by Yuan Shu)
Only one set of clothes must be worn before drying
Indonesian domestic helper, 40-year-old NN, detained in Qingshan Immigration Center for about 3 weeks in 2015 due to visa expiration. She pointed out that because there was no visit by visitors, a set of clothes could be worn. After washing clothes at night, only a blanket could be used to cover the body. If the clothes could not be dried in the morning, they could only wear wet clothes.
She also pointed out that the management staff in the center had a bad attitude. Some Burmese detainees did not understand English and Cantonese, but a female staff member shouted at the detainee for many days in a row. NN explained to the staff on behalf of the person, but the female staff member said that NN was "playing a hero" and that "everyone must obey". She raised her hand and asked the staff of the center "what are the rules of CIC", but she was troubled and sent to a separate cell.
Group calls on the community to pay attention: let the sun shine into the "black prison"
Shao Jiazhen, Zhu Kaidi and Zhang Chaoxiong criticized the center for ignoring human rights, "just like punishing black holes"; Zhu Kaidi pointed out that the center is crowded, and detainees need to sit up in front of a table every day, and there is one person on the day of the visit The lady told him "It's hard to get in." Shao Jiazhen quoted those who were detained as saying: "I would rather go to jail than want to join the CIC."
The CIC Concern Group, priest Gan Haowang, and the three legislators hope that through continuous follow-up contact with front-line detainees, the public will be made aware of the many prison rights issues in the detention center. The group urges the Immigration Department to set a time limit of not more than half a year for detention, to improve the detention environment to meet the humanitarian requirements. Shao Jiazhen also pointed out that the government should strengthen the authority of the Ombudsman to provide relevant training for frontline personnel; it also needs to review the existing complaint mechanism or establish an independent complaint channel to ensure that detainees can complain with confidence.
The group called on the community to pay attention to the issue of CIC prisoners. (Photographed by O'Gallery)
Immigration Department: strictly follow established procedures to ensure fair and proper treatment of detainees
The Immigration Department stated that all arrangements for detained persons at the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre were implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Immigration (Treatment of Detainees) Order, Chapter 115E of the Laws of Hong Kong. The center's various arrangements for detainees are also strictly in accordance with relevant established procedures to ensure that detainees receive fair and proper treatment.
The Immigration Department stated that all daytime activity rooms and dormitories are designed at the bottom of a high-rise building with multiple windows to ensure sufficient light and air circulation; while detainees can wear private clothing at the center and can apply to receive clothing through visits by relatives and friends . When the weather turns cold, detainees will receive hair-pinned jackets and warm blankets; the center will also provide detainees with laundry and drying services at regular intervals.
Will provide them with appropriate medical services
When detained in the center, they will be searched by the same-sex center staff, and the doctor will regularly check the latest situation of the detainees to make appropriate arrangements; if the detainee feels unwell, the doctor or medical staff will also help them Provide appropriate medical services. If the situation requires, the doctor will request the center to arrange for the detained person to be transferred to a public hospital for further treatment. In addition, the doctor will explain to the sick patient in detail the medicines prescribed, the course of treatment and the results of medical tests.
The Immigration Department stated that if any detainees were dissatisfied with the relevant arrangements, the Immigration Department also set up a complaint channel and mechanism to allow the person concerned to make a complaint. All detainees will be informed of the relevant complaint channels.
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