Hong Kong authorities have targeted what they described as “illicit food transaction” in Tai Lam Correctional Institution, a minimum security institution for male adult prisoners.
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) said in a press release on Thursday night that it had found two inmates involved in “illicit food transaction activities” in the dining hall of the institution on around 8 am that morning.
CSD staff took disciplinary action against the prisoners, while six prisoners “expressed support and acted collectively against” the correctional officers, CSD said. The six prisoners were removed for separate investigation.
CSD deployed more staff to the correctional institution to search for other prisoners who showed support for the two prisoners accused of improper activities.
“[Eleven] other persons in custody who were suspected of [being involved] in the aforementioned activities and possession of unauthorised articles were removed from associating with others for investigation,” CSD said, making a total of 17 prisoners isolated for further investigation.
The department did not elaborate on what was meant by “illicit food transaction.”
Prison rules
According to Article 23 and Article 61 of the Prison Rules, prisoners are guilty of an offence against prison discipline if they possess anything they are not authorised to have, or a greater quantity of than they are allowed to have, or gives to or receives “from any person any article” without permission.
Shiu Ka-chun, former pro-democracy lawmaker, told Hong Kong Economic Journal in 2021 that the above regulations were too broad, meaning they could be abused by CSD.
Shiu served eight months in jail in 2019 over his participation in the Umbrella Movement. He said he was put in solitary confinement for three days while in custody due to receiving and eating a meat ball from another prisoner.
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