This is the Visiting Friends Procedure in Hong Kong Prison
This is the Visiting Friends Procedure in Hong Kong Prison
DDHK.ORG - Everyone on Hong Kong can visit friends or relatives who are serving time in Hong Kong prisons. However, it must adhere to several procedures.
Marlina, a member of the volunteer team Dompet Dhuafa Hong Kong (DDHK) shared information about the visit to the prison. He conveyed this in connection with the experience of the Indonesian migrant worker from West Nusa Tenggara who visited several prisons in Negeri Beton, such as Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Tai Lam Correctional Institution.
First, knowing the real name and number of the prisoner.
"First, we must know the custody number and real name of the person we want to visit. This is important, because if we only know the name and the number of the prisoner, we automatically cannot visit the person concerned, ”said Lina, as she is usually called.
Secondly,, mail delivery.
After we know the names and numbers of the prisoners, we must send a letter to the person we wish to visit. For this procedure, we must know for sure in which prison the relative we wish to visit is being held.
"If he is detained in Lo Wu prison, then we will send a letter to Lo Wu Correctional Institution by post, accompanied by postage stamps. Outside the letter must be written a clear address and the name of the sender according to HKID, the name of the recipient and the number of the detainee, ”said the woman who is also a member of the DDHK Media Volunteer Team.
A week or two before the visit, the letter must be sent. Because, in addition to taking 2-4 days, we also have to wait for a reply letter from a relative or friend in prison.
"Whether we can visit them or not and whether there is any need we can help, depends on the reply from the prison," he said.
Third, procedure upon arrival at the destination prison.
Upon arrival in prison, we are required to fill out a formular sheet as a condition for visiting. The fields include our full name according to HKID, our residential address in Hong Kong, email address, a description of our relationship with the person we want to visit (friends, relatives or social volunteers), as well as the full name and number of the prisoner. "After being filled in, we submit the formular to the counter clerk, along with our HKID to check whether our names have been registered as visitors that day," said Lina.
Furthermore, the officer will check the luggage to be handed over to detention. All items that are allowed to enter have conditions, very detailed, including the brands of each item.
Before entering, we will pass through the metal detector door. And, we are prohibited from carrying cellphones, pens and paper. All our belongings are requested to be stored in the lockers provided. [DDHK News]