Press Release

Correctional Services Department sternly clarifies custodial arrangements for persons in custody

     As regards media enquiries concerning the number of defendants in the "35+" case who are subject to separate confinement as punishment for having committed offences against prison discipline, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (March 18) responded as follows:

     The CSD in general does not comment on individual cases. However, to prevent people with malicious intent from making unfounded adverse allegations on the relevant case, seeking to discredit and smear the CSD and mislead members of the public, on the premise of not affecting the privacy of the persons in custody (PICs) concerned, the CSD hereby makes this stern clarification to set the record straight.

     At present, 34 defendants involved in the "35+" case are detained in correctional institutions. Among them, 23 are segregated, with 21 of them having requested removal from association for protection on their own initiative. The CSD has therefore so arranged this according to their wish, and they can request the withdrawal of protection and resume association with other PICs at any time, while two persons have to be isolated for quarantine purposes due to COVID-19 infection. None of the defendants involved in the "35+" case who are detained in correctional institutions are currently under separate confinement as punishment for having committed offences against prison discipline, or removal from association with other PICs for the maintenance of good order or discipline etc, as so ordered by the CSD empowered by the Prison Rules (Cap. 234A).

     The CSD will continue to handle the custodial arrangement for all PICs in a lawful, sensible and reasonable manner.

Ends/Friday, March 18, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:00