Procedures for handling incidents of self-harm at MTKDC

Gigi Lo made this Freedom of Information request to Immigration Department

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was refused by Immigration Department.

Dear Immigration Department,

I am writing to make an information request regarding procedures in relation to incidents of self-harm and suicides at Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre. May I know,

A) Whether there are procedures and guidelines to handle incidents of a) self-harm b) suicide attempts c) suicides

B) Whether you would be able to provide these procedures and guidelines

Thank you for your help.

Yours faithfully,

Gigi Lo

Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (554) in ImmD DR/6-5/10/R

Dear Gigi Lo,
Our department has received your application for access to information on
17.12.2021. 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
06.01.2022. In the meantime, please contact the undersigned via this email
if you have any enquiry.

Best regards,

CHAN, Tsz-ho
for Director of Immigration

Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (554) in ImmD DR/6-5/10/R

Dear Gigi Lo,

Further to our interim reply of 24 December 2021, 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. 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 5 February 2022.

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

Best regards,

CHAN, Tsz-ho
for Director of Immigration

Immigration Department

Our Reference: L/M (554) in ImmD DR/6-5/10/R

Dear Gigi Lo,
I refer to your request for access to information on 17.12.2021 and our
interim reply to you on 20.12.2021 and 6.1.2022. I hereby provide you the
following information.
(A) The Immigration Department has all along followed the relevant
provisions under the Immigration Service (Treatment of Detained Persons)
Order, Chapter 331C of the Laws of Hong Kong, to ensure that the detainees
are treated fairly, safely and properly. Officers of the Ma Tau Kok
Detention Centre (“MTKDC”) are regularly trained on the procedures of
handling cases of self-harm/suicide/attempted suicide by detainees at the
MTKDC. They are provided with information on the symptoms of self-harm
behavior and guidelines on handling suicide/attempted suicide.
(B) After careful consideration of your application, I must advise you
that we are not prepared to provide the information requested for the
reason set out in paragraph 2.6(e) of the Code on Access to Information
which states that a department may refuse to disclose information the
disclosure of which would harm or prejudice the prevention, investigation
and detection of crime and offences, the apprehension or prosecution of
offenders, or the security of any detention facility or prison.

If you are not satisfied with the above decision, you may ask the
Department to review the decision by writing to the Director of
Immigration, whose address is:-

Immigration Tower
7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Alternatively, you may complain to the Ombudsman, whose address is:-

30/F, China Merchants Tower
Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Hong Kong
Telephone : 2629 0555
Fax : 2882 8149

I hope the information is useful to you.

Best regards,

CHAN Tsz-ho
for Director of Immigration