Police holding cells no better since 2009, says Hong Kong human rights group after survey
A new independent body needs to be set up to monitor conditions inside police holding cells as the force’s watchdog has no power to do so at present, said a local human rights NGO after announcing the government had failed its improvement pledge made in 2009.
A new independent body needs to be set up to monitor conditions inside police holding cells as the force’s watchdog has no power to do so at present, said a local human rights NGO after announcing the government had failed its improvement pledge made in 2009.
The issue is often overlooked due to the relatively short period detained persons stay in police cells, which by law should be no longer than 48 hours, according to Annie Lin, community organiser of Society for Community Organisation, which serves the underprivileged in Hong Kong.
In describing her experience in a holding cell, Angel Keswani, 24, said it was “dark” and that the “cold bed” was “no different from the floor”.
READ MORE: Police cell conditions under fire
The native-English teacher, born in Indonesia but raised in Hong Kong, was detained overnight in December 2013, after she was wrongfully accused by an off-duty police officer of stealing his mobile phone.
Keswani was released after spending eight hours in the cell.
“We were hungry and thirsty … we didn't want to use the washroom,” she added.
“I wasn't comfortable as there was nothing covering the door. There’s no privacy at all.”
