Physical confrontations at MTKDC (2020-2022)

H. Y. Fung made this Freedom of Information request to Immigration Department

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H. Y. Fung
Delivered

Dear Immigration Department,

I am writing to make a data access request about number of detainees involved in physical confrontations at Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre. May I know, for each of the years between 2020 - 2022,

(1) The number of cases of physical confrontation involving detainees at the Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (“MTKDC”);

(2) The nature of such physical confrontation at the MTKDC, including:
(a) Detainee-on-detainee assaults
(b) Detainee-on-staff assaults
(c) Others (please specify)

(3) The number of detainees who were injured as a result of physical confrontations

(4) The number of MTKDC staff who were injured as a result of physical confrontations

(5) The number of cases in which immigration officers used force on immigration detainees at the MTKDC

(6) The reason for immigration officers to use force on immigration detainees at the MTKDC, including:
(a) to prevent detainee-on-detainee assaults
(b) to prevent detainee-on-staff assaults
(c) to prevent self-harm incidents
(d) Others (please specify)

(7) The type of force used on detainees, including:
(a) empty-hand control
(b) use of pepper spray/ oleoresin capsicum spray
(c) use of 37 mm single shot launcher
(d) Others (please specify)

(8) The number of times force was used on detainees, with breakdown by:
(a) empty-hand control
(b) use of pepper spray/ oleoresin capsicum spray
(c) use of 37 mm single shot launcher
(d) Others (please specify)

If the information could be provided in CSV format, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much for your help on this matter. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,
H. Y. Fung

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Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (589) in ImmD DR/6-5/10/R

Dear H.Y. FUNG,
Our department has received your application for access to information on
20.12.2022.  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
09.01.2023. In the meantime, please contact the undersigned via this email
if you have any enquiry.

Best regards,

CHAN Tsz-ho
for Director of Immigration

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Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (589) in ImmD DR/6-5/10/R

Dear H.Y. FUNG,
I hereby provide you with the following information.

(1) & (2) The number of cases of physical confrontation involving
detainees at the Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (“MTKDC”) and the breakdown
by the nature of detainee-on-detainee assaults and detainee-on-staff
assaults from 2020 to 2022 is as follows:

Year Detainee-on-detainee assaults Detainee-on-staff Total
assaults
2020 0 0 0
2021 1 0 1
2022 1 0 1

(3) The number of detainees who were injured in detainee-on-detainee
assaults and detainee-on-detainee assaults at MTKDC from 2020 to 2022 is
as follows:

Year No. of detainees who were injured at MTKDC
Detainee-on-detainee assaults Detainee-on-staff Total
assaults
2020 0 0 0
2021 0 0 0
2022 1 0 1

(4) The number of MTKDC staff who were injured in detainee-on-detainee
assaults and detainee-on-staff assaults at MTKDC from 2020 to 2022 is as
follows:

Year No. of staff who were injured at MTKDC
Detainee-on-detainee Detainee-on-staff Total
assaults assaults
2020 0 0 0
2021 0 0 0
2022 0 0 0

(5) & (6) According to departmental guidelines, in the event of a special
incident (such as a physical confrontation incident involving detainee(s))
at MTKDC, duty officers will first assess the urgency and severity of the
incident having regard to the actual circumstances at that time, and then
use appropriate and necessary force to prevent deterioration of the
incident and ensure the safety of the detainees and staff. Moreover, where
the situation permits, duty officers will give a warning to the
attacker(s) prior to the use of force to allow the attacker(s) to stop the
aggressive behavior and obey the orders. Duty officers will use force only
if the attacker(s) continue with the aggressive behavior and do not obey
the orders. Immigration Department does not maintain the statistics
mentioned in the questions.

(7) & (8) When carrying out regular duties such as custodial and escort
duties and the handling of physical confrontations, staff of ImmD will
handle the situations by means of verbal instructions/orders or empty-hand
control as appropriate. Staff of MTKDC are equipped with oleoresin
capsicum foam but not 37 mm single shot launchers to cope with possible
violent or emergency situations. The officers of MTKDC had never used
oleoresin capsicum foam.

Best Regards,

LEE Chi-hang Jonathan

for Director of Immigration

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