The research project ended in Aug 2023.
Information on this website is current up to 31 Aug, 2023 unless otherwise specified.
In 2019, there were more immigration detainees than prisoners in Hong Kong.
Despite these high numbers, little is known about the workings of the immigration detention system.
What is immigration detention?
Immigration detention refers to the practice of detaining persons suspected of violating immigration rules and regulations in closed government facilities.
In Hong Kong, immigration detention is a form of administrative detention. The decision to deprive an individual of liberty for reasons related to their immigration status is made by government officials, not courts.
Read our full data story introducing immigration detention in Hong Kong here
How is immigration detention different from prison?
If someone is accused of committing a crime, the criminal charges against them ordinarily have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution in a court of law. A court decides whether and for how long an individual convicted of a crime should be sent to prison.
By contrast, an immigration detainee loses their liberty without the check and balance of judicial scrutiny.
Where are people detained in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s four main immigration detention facilities are:
- Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre
- Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre
- Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, and
- Nei Kwu Correctional Institution
Anecdotal accounts indicate that individuals are detained anywhere between a few hours and a few years.
(Credit: South China Morning Post)
(Credit: Immigration Department)
(Credit: Correctional Services Department)
However, immigration detainees can also be held in prisons, police stations, and more.
See the graph below for all detention locations.
How to use this visualisation
- Where are immigration detainees held?
- Where are minors held?
- Which authority manages the facilities?
- What rules govern the treatment of detainees?
Find the answers to the questions by selecting the options under “Group by” and “Color by”.
About the project
This project is a 3-year research project at the Faculty of Law within the Chinese University of Hong Kong to evaluate the immigration detention system in Hong Kong in relation to vulnerable migrants. We aim to generate policy-oriented analysis that can help to improve the system and protect the rights and welfare of detainees and their families.
Research findings
The project began in July 2020 and ran through August 2023.
Information on this website is current up to 31 Aug, 2023.
Resources
See all resources under ‘Resources’ in the navigation menu.
General information about detention
- ‘Could it happen to me?’ – Animated video explaining the detention system
- Research briefs about the detention system
For detained persons
- Know Your Rights booklet – What is detention like? What are my rights?
For migrant domestic workers
- Comic – Why and how do migrant domestic workers end up in immigration detention?
- Video – What are my rights in detention? What can I do to avoid being detained?
For family members and friends of detained persons
- Guidebook – How can I contact a detained person? What can I bring to visits?
Civil society organisations
Local (Hong Kong)
- Justice Centre Hong Kong
- Branches of Hope
- Hong Kong Dignity Institute
- The Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees
- HELP For Domestic Workers
- CIC Detainees’ Rights Concern Group
- Equal Justice
Regional and International
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