Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration Detainees

This Guidebook gives:

(1) basic information about the detention system and different detention facilities, and links to resources where you can learn more, and

(2) information and advice about immigration detention rules and other matters.

We hope you find it useful.

The guidebook is available in the following languages:

  • English
  • Arabic
  • Bahasa
  • Bengali
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • French
  • Hindi
  • Nepali
  • Punjabi
  • Sinhala
  • Tagalog
  • Thai
  • Urdu
  • Vietnamese

Download the guidebook

[ENGLISH] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[ARABIC] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[BAHASA] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[BENGALI] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[CHINESE SIMPLIFIED] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[CHINESE TRADITIONAL] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[FRENCH] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[HINDI] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[NEPALI] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[PUNJABI] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[SINHALA] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[TAGALOG] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[THAI] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[URDU] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload
[VIETNAMESE] Guidebook for Family Members and Friends of Immigration DetaineesDownload

Links in the Guidebook

Page number
p1https://kontinentalist.com/stories/detainees-held-at-immigration-detention-centres-in-hong-kong
p14https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_hk_tgci.html
p15https://csdebookingp.csd.gov.hk/ovebs/?page=home#
https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_hk_tgci.html
p16https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/socialvisit/socialvisit_articles/mrp_sso.html
p18https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/social_visit_cic/hand_in_articles.html
https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/socialvisit/socialvisit_articles/ins_vis_guide_handin_articles.html
https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/socialvisit/socialvisit_articles/mrp_sso.html

Where to get support and advice (p21)

There are various non-profit and religious organisations in Hong Kong supporting asylum seekers, refugees, migrant domestic workers, victims of trafficking, and other migrant groups. Below are some organisations you could contact as a start.

Non-profit and civil society organisations
Name of organisationPrimarily servesPrimarily providesLink to organisation
Branches of HopeAsylum seekers and refugeesBasic needs support; Children education programme; Adult development programme; Medical and legal referral; and Advice on durable solutions.https://branchesofhope.org.hk/
Equal JusticeDisadvantaged peopleLegal information and supporthttps://www.equaljustice.org/
HELP For Domestic WorkersMigrant domestic workers and employersLegal support, educational information, and community building programmeshttps://helpfordomesticworkers.org/en/home/
Hong Kong Dignity InstituteVictims of traffickingPsychological and legal assistancehttps://www.dignityinstitute.com/
Justice Centre Hong KongAsylum Seekers and Refugees, and Other Displaced PersonsLegal Information & support on USM claims & related proceedings, and Civil remedies for unlawful detention; and Access to psychosocial supporthttps://www.justicecentre.org.hk/
Mission for Migrant Workers
( MFMW Limited) 

Migrant Domestic Workers and EmployersGuidance assistance; Outreach service; Prison and hospital visits; Shelter and food assistance; Referrals to professional services; Training and education; Organising and campaign support; Women’s empowerment; and Advocacy for social inclusionhttps://www.migrants.net/
The Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees 香港尋求庇護者及難民協會Asylum seekers and refugeesBasic needs support, community education, youth and women education programmes, and advocacyhttps://www.facebook.com/HKSASR/

More information about immigration detention (p22)

Endnotes (p22-23)

1
Immigration (Places of Detention) Order (Cap. 115B), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap115B
2 https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_offdr/sub_crhomes/
3,4 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/statistics_on_immigration_detain
5 https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_offdr/sub_crhomes/
6
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/226731/Tai-Tam-prison-to-reopen-for-asylum-seekers
7 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/clarification_regarding_criminal
8
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/detainees_at_cic_in_2021
9 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/detainees_at_mtkdc_in_2021
10 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/average_daily_detainee_populatio?nocache=incoming-3664#incoming-3664
11 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/demographic_information_at_tmcjh
12
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/detainees_at_cic_in_2021
13 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/yearly_admittance_to_mtkdc_in_20
14 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/number_of_detainees_held_at_tai
15 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/demographic_information_of_migra
16 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/data_on_length_duration_of_deten
17 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/data_on_lengths_of_stay_at_tmcjh
18 https://immigrationdetentionhk.net/en/data-viz/#length-det-cic
19 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/lengths_of_detention_at_cic
20 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/data_on_length_duration_of_deten_2
21
https://immigrationdetentionhk.net/en/data-viz/#length-det-mtk
22,23,24 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/data_on_sections_of_io_that_immi
25 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/notice_given_upon_detention_revi
26
Immigration (Treatment of Detainees) Order (Cap. 115E), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap115E
27
Prison Rules (Cap. 234A), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap234A
28,29 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/detention_policy_as_of_august_20#incoming-2043
30 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/704/response/2043/attach/2/CIC%20Operational%20Manual%20Treatment%20of%20
Detainees.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
31 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/704/response/2043/attach/3/Ma%20Tau%20Kok%20Detention%20Centre%20Operational%20
Manual%20Treatment%20of%20Detained%20Persons.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
32 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/detainees_involved_in_physical_c
33,34 https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2022/english/panels/se/papers/se20221206cb2-968-2-e.pdf
35 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/704/response/2043/attach/2/CIC%20Operational%20Manual%20Treatment%20of%20
Detainees.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
36 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/704/response/2043/attach/3/Ma%20Tau%20Kok%20Detention%20Centre%20Operational%20
Manual%20Treatment%20of%20Detained%20Persons.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
37 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/languages_of_notice_to_immigrati
38 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/1002/response/3004/attach/3/Castle%20Peak%20Bay%20Immigration%20Centre%20
Information%20Leaflet%20for%20Detainees.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
39
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/regarding_information_leaflet_fo
40
https://www.immd.gov.hk/pdf/arrestguide_en.pdf
41 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/notice_given_upon_detention_of_m

42 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/3/S.32%20Notice%20on%20Detention%20Policy.pdf?cookie_
passthrough=1
43 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/5/S.32%20Notice%20of%20Review%20of%20Detention.
pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
44 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/4/S.32%20Notice%20of%20Detention.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
45 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/6/S.37ZK%20Notice%20on%20Detention%20Policy.pdf?cookie_
passthrough=1
46 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/8/S.37ZK%20Notice%20of%20Review%20of%20Detention.
pdf?cookie_passthrough=1
47 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/968/response/3052/attach/7/S.37ZK%20Notice%20of%20Detention.pdf?cookie_
passthrough=1
48,49 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/visits_to_cic_and_mtkdc
50
Section 203, Prison Rules (Cap. 234A), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap234A
51,52 https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/social_visit_cic/social_visit_cic.html
53
*“A detainee shall not receive visitors except with the prior permission of the Superintendent given in his discretion”, Immigration (Treatment of Detainees) Order (Cap. 115E), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap115E
54
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/visits_to_tgci
55
Section 203, Prison Rules (Cap. 234A), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap234A
56
“A detainee must be afforded reasonable opportunity to communicate with a legal adviser and to consult with the legal adviser in the presence, but out of the hearing, of an officer unless the communication or consultation would cause unreasonable hindrance or delay to the investigation of the suspected offence or the administration of justice.” – Immigration (Treatment of Detainees)
Order (Cap. 115E), https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap115E
57
“The legal adviser of a prisoner may, with the permission of the Commissioner, interview the prisoner with reference to any other legal business in the sight and hearing of an officer of the Correctional Services Department.” – Prison Rules (Cap. 234A),
https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap234A
58 https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/facility/facility_ind/ins_hk_tgci.html
59,60
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/phone_calls_in_cic_and_mtkdc
61,62,63
https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/phone_calls_in_ttg
64 https://www.csd.gov.hk/english/socialvisit/socialvisit_articles/mrp_sso.html,
https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/social_visit_cic/hand_in_articles.html
65 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/guidelines_on_private_clothing_r_2
66 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/guidelines_on_private_clothing_r
67 https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/guidelines_on_private_clothing_r_3
68
https://www.ombudsman.hk/whoweare/?lang=en#tag_The_Ombudsman_Message
69
https://www.ombudsman.hk/howtocomplain/?lang=en#tag_Lodge_a_Complaint
70
https://www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/sc.html
71
https://www.judiciary.hk/en/publications/judfactsheet.html
72
The original RTHK article that quotes this number is no longer available online. However, a relevant quote (in Chinese) can be found in this link: https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/unlawful_detention_claims_brough?unfold=1