In response to an untrue report, the Immigration Department stressed it strictly follows the Immigration (Treatment of Detainees) Order to ensure that detainees are treated fairly and properly.

The department expressed regret over the report by an individual media organisation on the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre.

In the statement, the department said the detainees at the centre are either illegal immigrants or overstayers or were refused permission to land in Hong Kong and are liable to be removed from the city.

The detainees at the centre are accorded the treatment provided by the order, covering medical examinations, exercise, personal hygiene, channels for lodging complaints, visits by Justices of the Peace and communication with legal advisers.

The order provides that if a detainee at the centre says they are suffering from sickness or injury, the detainee should be provided with adequate medical attention at the centre.

The protected rooms referred to in the news report are the existing two protected rooms in the centre used to temporarily accommodate people who are prone to self-harm or emotionally unstable.

The department reiterated that the purpose of arranging detainees to undergo medical observation in the protected rooms is to protect their safety without any punishment involved as reported. It strongly condemned any untrue accusation or report alleging that department staff have inhumanely treated or tortured detainees.

It emphasised that no violent incident or malpractice would be tolerated. Any person who alleges to have been treated violently under detention may immediately lodge a complaint with the department or make a report to Police for assistance.

The department expressed deep regret over those who made groundless and unjust accusations alleging that detainees were subjected to verbal and physical abuse or inhumane treatment.

It pointed out that these people challenge the legality of the department’s detention decisions, having no regard for the objective facts that some of the detainees may pose serious security risks to the community.