Correctional Services Department Refuses to Deliver 612 Fund Annual Report to Inmates, Requires Signatures Agreeing to Destruction; Lawmaker Says Communications Obstructed
懲教署拒派612基金年報予在囚者 要求簽署銷毀 議員批阻撓通訊
During the pandemic, the Correctional Services Department cancelled most official visits to prisons and remand centres, making letters the main means of communication between inmates and the outside world. However, lawmakers said they had continuously received requests for help since August, with some inmates reporting that their letters were frequently rejected. These included annual reports sent by the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which the Correctional Services Department allegedly also required them to sign consent for destruction. There were also suspicions that the delivery of letters had been delayed. Several Legislative Council members and district councillors held a press conference today, calling on the department to explain the reasons and safeguard inmates’ right to communication.
疫情之下，懲教署取消大部份到監獄及收押所的公務探訪，書信成為在囚人士與外界溝通的主要方式。惟有議員指自8月起不斷收到求助，有在囚人士表示信件頻頻被拒，當中包括「612人道支援基金」寄出的年報，更被懲教署要求簽署同意銷毀，亦懷疑有拖延派發信件的情況。多名立法會議員及區議員今日召開記者會，要求署方交代原因，保障在囚人士通訊權利。