Doubt Cast On Hunger Strike Claim By Detainees

The Immigration Department has cast doubts on claims that a group of detainees at the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) is on a hunger strike, saying though they have been refusing the meals provided at the centre, with all of them believed to be “consuming other food”.

Earlier this week, the CIC detainees right concern group said 15 detainees had taken their hunger strike at the facility into a fourth week.

It said at least two dozen detainees had started the protest on June 29 against what they saw as their indefinite detention, but some had been sent to hospital or ended the strike because of health problems.

Responding to RTHK’s enquiries, the Immigration Department said that on July 20, 15 detainees had refused to collect meals at the CIC.

It said staff had been monitoring their health, and none had reported being sick. The department added that their glucose levels were normal, and they were generally “emotionally stable”.

The department said that “despite their refusal to collect meals from the CIC, they are believed to have all along been consuming other food.”

The statement did not elaborate on how this was done and RTHK has asked the authorities for more details.

The CIC said immigration staff have been providing counselling, and met these detainees to explain their detention and progress of their cases.

The concern group said the group of hunger strikers had been detained for between two months and nearly two years, and felt there was no other way to raise awareness about their plight.

The Immigration Department said most of them have criminal records involving serious or violent crimes – including blackmail, wounding, and drug trafficking – and are subject to deportation.

All had raised objections to being removed by lodging non-refoulement claims, the department said.

It said that even though most of these claims had been rejected by the department and an independent tribunal after appeal, the detainees remain in Hong Kong because they are seeking permission for judicial reviews.