Behind bars, Hong Kong political activist Joshua Wong remains in good spirits
Visiting the city’s most famous inmate
“We are here to visit a friend,” I said to the guard at the entrance.
After a brief registration process, Tiff and I headed straight to the main building, almost sprinting to evade a pair of paparazzi. Once inside, we deposited our belongings in a locker and walked through an X-ray gantry. Tiff held on to a bag of personal supplies for Joshua.
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Visitors are permitted to bring basic items for inmates, but they must meet stringent prison requirements. Tiff knew the only way to guarantee compliance was to purchase everything – from notebooks to batteries and undergarment – at the general store near Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, where Joshua spent his first night after his sentencing.
A short wait later, an officer called our number. Tiff and I located Joshua’s booth and there he was: the same scrawny boy with a different haircut.
He flashed a Cheshire cat smile, clearly elated to see his girlfriend. In an instant, I went from second visitor to third wheel.
Tiff picked up the handset to chat. I saw Joshua’s lips move but couldn’t hear him. The thick glass walls separating prisoners from visitors were certifiably soundproof. What did come through, however, was his good spirits.
Tiff spoke in rapid-fire spurts, updating Joshua on personal and political matters with determined efficiency. While they talked, a smiling prison guard saw me standing behind Tiff and walked over to offer me a chair. I declined but thanked him profusely.
