Press Release

CSD issues clarification statement on the admission of a person in custody into hospital at Tong Fuk Correctional Institution

     In response to the incident referred to the media today (January 3) by the Legislative Council member Dr Cheng Chung-tai regarding the admission of a 37 years old male person in custody (PIC) of Tong Fuk Correctional Institution into a public hospital, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) made the following clarification:-

     At 6.35pm on January 1, 2017, the subject PIC complained of abdominal pain inside a dining hall. Correctional officer instantly arranged him to receive medical examination at the centre hospital. Having found the subject PIC sustaining abdominal distension, the residential Senior Medical Officer of Department of Health conducted detailed consultation and physical examination on him. The subject PIC disclosed to the Senior Medical Officer that he had not been assaulted, and no signs of physical assault was revealed during the examination. The Medical Officer decided to refer the subject PIC to a public hospital for further examination, and subsequently the subject PIC was sent to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital by helicopter. During the transfer, the subject PIC remained conscious. His physical condition later deteriorated and the medical staff applied emergency resuscitation to him upon his arrival at the hospital. The institutional management also informed his relatives of the relevant situation without delay.

     Preliminary enquiry, including viewing the relevant closed-circuit television footage, revealed no abnormality.

Ends/Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:24