The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomed the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance today to dismiss Chow Hang-tung’s application for a judicial review on the clothing policy for persons in custody (PICs).

The court judgment pointed out that the current clothing policy for PICs, including the requirement for female PICs to wear trousers in summer daytime, was formulated by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as authorised by the Prison Rules.

The court was satisfied that the CSD had the expertise and experience in the relevant context, and that it had carefully considered various factors, and had taken professional opinion into account when making the decision, as well as reviewed the policy continuously.

The court ruled that Chow Hang-tung had failed to demonstrate that the current policy constituted less favourable treatment of a particular gender.

It pointed out that there was currently no factual evidence to support any assertion that there was widespread concern about the health effects of wearing trousers in summer.

In addition, the rule was not absolute, but instead allowed individual PICs to apply for exceptional arrangements in special circumstances.

At the same time, the court also rejected Chow Hang-tung’s assertion that her request to the CSD in July and August 2024 for wearing shorts and had been refused.

The Security Bureau said the Court of First Instance’s ruling confirmed that the CSD’s approach is reasonable, justified and lawful.

According to Rule 26 of the Prison Rules, the CSD must provide every PIC with a uniform that meets a scale imposed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services.

Over the years, the CSD had appointed task groups from time to time to review the clothing arrangements of PICs.

These reviews gave ample consideration to numerous factors so as to continuously refine clothing arrangements according to the prevailing circumstances.

Such factors included the type of correctional institutions, PICs’ varying daily routines and activities involved, the need for thermal, physical and psychological comfort for PICs of both genders, privacy and decency of PICs, and the security, good order and discipline of the prison.

The bureau added that Chow Hang-tung’s assertion that she had requested to wear shorts in summer and was rejected by the CSD is entirely inconsistent with the facts, and was rejected by the court.

Besides, the current clothing policy for PICs already provides a degree of flexibility. For example, a PIC may make an application to wear other clothing on medical or non-medical grounds to the CSD which would make appropriate arrangements having considered the actual circumstances and relevant factors.

The bureau added that the CSD will continue to impartially implement the relevant rules of the Prison Rules in accordance with the law, and commit to providing a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment.