LO WU | HONG KONG - One of the social service programs Dompet Dhuafa Hong Kong (DDHK) is a prison visit. We regularly visit our Indonesian Friends who are involved in criminal cases in various prisons in Hong Kong.
Visiting them can be done one by one or two people in turns. Conducted in glass-insulated booths and communicating via telephone receivers that are connected to each other.
So far, the DDHK volunteer who is in charge of making visits to the prison is Ukhti Nur Aini. But currently he is returning to his homeland.
Finally, I, along with Mas Achmad Nafal Firdaus Amru, a student at the Sunan Ampel State Islamic University (UINSA) Surabaya who is currently serving in Hong Kong for DDHK, and another volunteer, Ukhti Sumarlina, who was assigned to visit Lo Wu Correctional Institution or better known as the name “Lo Wu Prison”, along with three other Friend of Migrants who are used to making prison visits.
That morning, Sunday (25/8/2019), around 7:30 am, I left my house in Braemar Hill, North Point, headed to Causeway Bay, to meet Sister Ida Sulaikah, a friend who had often visited the prison. .
Before entering the MTR train station, we also shop for souvenirs for Sahabat Indonesia who is currently being held in prison. We have to be selective, because not all products are allowed to be brought in and pass the officers' censorship. The rest, Mas Nafal and Ukhti Sumarlina were ready with a large bag of souvenirs. Meanwhile, Ukhti Ida brought prayer books for Sahabat Indonesia to read in prison.
By MTR from Causeway Bay, it will take an hour to arrive at the University station. The plan was for us to get off at Sheung Shui station. However, just as he got on the train, there was an announcement on the screen that read, "East Rail service from University Station to Fan Ling is temporarily closed."
From the University station, we took a green taxi serving the New Territory. Until we arrived at Lo Wu prison, the cost we had to pay was HK $ 150.
Must Register Before
When we arrived at the prison counter near the entrance, we were asked to mention the names and numbers of the special code for the Indonesian Friends who wanted to be visited. We can get these names and codes, if we have registered as prison visitors. While waiting, I also looked at the glass-walled window displays displaying the products that can be brought during a visit to the prison.
I have listed below, who knows if there are donors who want to invest or donate these products to be brought to the next visit. Namely: (1) Tempo "Icy Menthol Flavor" & "Neutral Flavor" standard size (10 in one original pack), (2) Gambol NOTEBOOK 7MM30lines Single lined; White 4 Plain Color, Max Size: A4 not more than 100 pages per book: siloft cover. (This is useful for writing letters), (3) Bic Brand Cristal Blue Ball pen with transparent plastic bodies and cover without spring, (4) Labelli (Blue Cap) sealed in original pack, (5) Swashes brand disinfectant wet tissues (10 individually sealed pieces per pack), (6) Regular typed blue or grewn in color individually sealed pieces, (7) Pear 80 ml in plastic tube (sealed in original pack), (8) Johnson's baby powder clinically proven mild, hypoallergenic, (9) Chinese Caracter "GOOD MORNING" Brand 75 cm x 35 cm (a small white towel if at home we make dusty cloths), and (10) Gp Alkaline "AA" or "AAA".
All products brought as souvenirs must be submitted to the counter clerk for inspection. If deemed appropriate, then the products are given directly by the officer to the Sahabat Indonesia visited.
Because I had not previously been registered as a visitor, I along with Mas Nafal and another DDHK volunteer, Ukhti Sumarlina, just waited in the waiting room, and were not allowed to visit inside.
Only Ukhti Sri Wahyuni, Ukhti Ida, and a registered friend were allowed to visit. They had sent a letter requesting a visit to the prison a few days earlier. Inside, the three of them visited some Indonesian Friends.
According to the story of Ukhti Ida, most of Indonesia's friends who were imprisoned in Lo Wu were caught in drug abuse cases. Inside, said Ukhti Ida, there was a Sahabat Indonesia who was sentenced to less than 20 years in prison, then received an 8-year remission, and he has served 4 years in prison. There are also those who have been imprisoned for 4 years, and still have to serve another 4 years in prison.
From this visit I realized how important it is for us to remind each other to be careful in interacting and acting. Moreover, we live in a land of people. We recommend that we comply with the applicable rules and do not become overstayer. Moreover, then working illegally and circulating prohibited items.
Since that day at 3 pm I had to get home again, I asked to go home early. We are waiting for minibus number 51K to Sheung Shui, which costs HK $ 7,1. From Sheung Shui terminal, take bus number 673 to Causeway Bay, which costs HK $ 24 .. At 3:10 am, I arrived home, at Braemar Hill. [Siti Ngatipah]
