New Prison Rules Target Political Prisoners in Hong Kong

Yesterday at 11:48 pm

3962 posts

New Prison Rules Target Political Prisoners in Hong Kong \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hong Kong has implemented new prison regulations allowing authorities to block inmate visits from certain lawyers and chaplains on national security grounds. The rules, effective Friday, heighten control over detainees—many arrested during the 2019 protests. Critics warn the measures further erode prisoners’ rights.

Quick Looks

New rules enable magistrates to block inmate visits by lawyers.
Legal representatives can be barred if considered national security threats.
Chaplain and religious visits may also be restricted.
Law aims to prevent crime, maintain prison security, and aid rehabilitation.
Nearly 600 people jailed as of Dec. 2024 for security-related offenses.
Security Secretary Chris Tang said some visitors incited anger in inmates.
One legal adviser convicted for taking complaint form out of prison.
Officials say inmates still retain access to other legal counsel.
Critics say changes target former pro-democracy protesters.
Lawmakers will review the rule change next week.

Deep Look

In a move raising fresh concerns about human rights in Hong Kong, the city’s authorities have enacted new regulations that grant broad powers to restrict inmate visits—including from legal counsel and religious personnel—if deemed a threat to national security.

Effective Friday, the new rules empower magistrates to issue warrants blocking certain individuals from visiting those held in Hong Kong’s correctional facilities. According to the Correctional Services Department (CSD), this authority can be exercised if a magistrate is satisfied there is potential for harm to national security, risk of bodily harm, or interference with rehabilitation.

The revisions also permit prison officials to curtail religious visits, such as those made by specific chaplains or spiritual leaders, citing the need to uphold prison order, prevent criminal activity, and facilitate inmate rehabilitation.

A Sweeping Expansion of State Control

While authorities argue the amendments are necessary to prevent subversive activity and secure detention facilities, civil society groups and legal experts warn the measures threaten inmate rights—particularly for the nearly 600 people currently imprisoned under Hong Kong’s national security laws.

Many of these inmates were arrested for political activities tied to the 2019 anti-government protests, a social movement that rocked the semi-autonomous territory and drew international attention to Beijing’s tightening grip.

According to official records, hundreds were sent to prison annually between 2020 and 2024 for protest-related charges or national security violations. As of December 31, 2024, 586 individuals remained in custody under these statutes.

Controversial Rationale and Past Incidents

Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang defended the changes during a recent legislative briefing, stating that some visitors were exploiting their access to fuel anti-government sentiment among inmates—particularly those convicted over the 2019 unrest, which officials frequently refer to as “black violence.”

Tang pointed to an unspecified incident in which an inmate passed unauthorized items to a legal adviser during a prison visit, prompting public concern. One widely known case involved activist Owen Chow, whose lawyer was convicted last year after removing a complaint form—without prior approval—that Chow had written about his treatment by correctional officers.

Officials maintain that the new policy does not eliminate access to legal counsel, asserting that inmates can still consult with alternative lawyers and are entitled to confidential legal advice, provided the representative poses no security risk.

However, the subjective nature of such risk assessments and the lack of transparency over warrant issuance raise alarms among legal scholars and prisoner advocates.

Humanitarian Concerns and Public Backlash

Brandon Yau, secretary of Waiting Bird, a support group for political prisoners, expressed concern that the new measures reflect a deliberate strategy to isolate and demoralize incarcerated protesters.

“It seems they [authorities] are doing something further to create an atmosphere that they would continue to target and suppress the political prisoners,” Yau said in an interview.

Yau said that while his group has not yet felt direct impact, the changes give prison officials the power to curate and restrict visitor lists, potentially limiting emotional and psychological support networks for detainees. He emphasized that most visitors merely aim to show compassion and concern for inmate well-being.

The implication, according to critics, is that the new rules signal a broadening campaign of control, where even humanitarian or religious outreach is scrutinized through the lens of national security.

Legal Scrutiny Ahead

Lawmakers are expected to formally review the changes next week, though critics fear the legislature—now dominated by pro-Beijing figures after sweeping electoral reforms—will rubber-stamp the amendments.

This latest shift follows a pattern seen since the 2020 implementation of the first Beijing-imposed national security law, which outlawed subversion, secession, and collusion with foreign forces. That law was followed earlier this year by a second sweeping statute known as Article 23, further tightening political expression and civil liberties.

For rights groups and international observers, the prison regulation change is emblematic of Hong Kong’s evolving identity—from an open society with strong legal institutions to a quasi-police state under mainland-style authoritarian rule.

As the government continues to emphasize rehabilitation through discipline and security, prisoner support advocates warn that the psychological and legal isolation of inmates could leave lasting scars, especially among young protesters sentenced in their early 20s.

The real-world impact of these new prison rules will likely depend on how aggressively they are enforced, but they already send a chilling message: in post-protest Hong Kong, even compassion and counsel may be perceived as threats.