Phone calls in CIC and MTKDC

Gigi Lo made this Freedom of Information request to Immigration Department

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The request was successful.

Dear Immigration Department,

I am writing to make an information request regarding phone calls in immigration detention facilities. May I know, for Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre and Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre,

1) How many phone calls can a detainee make per day / week?

2) How much time is allowed for each call?

3) Is there a cost for making a phone call?

4) If there is a relevant manual / guideline / notice regarding these rules, would it be possible to receive a copy of it?

Thank you kindly for your help with this query.

Yours faithfully,

Gigi Lo

Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (10) in ImmD CIC/6-5/10 (R) Pt.6

Dear Gigi Lo,

Our department has received your application for access to information on
12.05.2022. Your application is now under processing. According to
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will
inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before
01.06.2022.

If you have any enquiry, please contact the undersigned via this email.

Best Regards,

CHEUNG Kai-ho
for Director of Immigration

Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (10) in ImmD CIC/6-5/10 (R) Pt.6

Dear Gigi Lo,

Further to our interim reply on 20.05.2022, I am writing to inform you
that your application for Access to Information is still under processing,
as more time is required to gather and consolidate the information
requested in your application (if any). According to paragraph 1.18 of the
Code on Access to Information, our department will inform you of the
latest progress of the case separately on or before 01.07.2022.

If you have any enquiry, please contact the undersigned via this email.

Best Regards,

LEI Wa-yan
for Director of Immigration

Immigration Department

2 Attachments

Our Reference: L/M (10) in ImmD CIC/6-5/10 (R) Pt.6

Dear Gigi Lo,

I refer to your request for access to information on 12 May 2022 and our
interim replies to you on 20 May 2022 and 1 June 2022.  I hereby provide
you with the following information.

The provision of treatments to detainees at the Castle Peak Bay
Immigration Centre (“CIC”) and the Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (“MTKDC”)
is governed by the Immigration (Treatment of Detainees) Order (Cap. 115E)
(“Cap. 115E”) as well as Immigration Service (Treatment of Detained
Persons) Order (Cap. 331C) (“Cap. 331C”) and has been strictly adhered to.
 Upon admission to CIC or MTKDC, every detainee will be served with an
“Information Leaflet for Detainee” or a “Notice to Persons Detained” and
be informed of their rights, welfare, treatments and channels of
complaints during detention at CIC or MTKDC.  In addition, a “Notice to
Persons Detained” is displayed in a conspicuous position at CIC and MTKDC
where it can readily be seen by detainees as stipulated in Rule 17 of
Cap.115E and Section 17 of Cap. 331C.

At CIC, a detainee may be allowed to make local telephone calls free of
charge for five minutes once a week when timely communication is
imperative.  Detainees may make international phone calls with pre-paid
telephone card on his/ her own charge.  Calls will be supervised and
monitored by the on-duty staff.  

In general, provided that no unreasonable delay or hindrance is likely to
be caused to the process of investigation or the administration of
justice, a detainee at MTKDC may make local telephone calls free of charge
upon request.  A detainee in MTKDC may make international phone calls with
pre-paid telephone card on his/ her own charge.  

The “Information Leaflet for Detainees” for detainees at CIC and “Notice
to Persons Detained” for detainees at MTKDC are attached below for your
information.

I hope the information is useful to you.

Best Regards,

CHEUNG Kai-ho
for Director of Immigration