Ex-convicts get a chance to turn over a new leaf working at MercyHK’s dim sum shop, founded by Father John

Opened last September, the canteen hires ex-prisoners to help them reintegrate into society. It is run by MercyHK, a charity founded by Father John Wotherspoon in 2017.

He wanted to focus on giving the formerly incarcerated a second chance after Pope Francis declared the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, dedicating the year to compassion and reconciliation.

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“Most people when they come out of prison ... nobody wants to employ them. And they cannot get a job; they cannot find a place to stay; they get back into trouble,” explained the 77-year-old, who has been ministering in Hong Kong for more than three decades.

Through another NGO, Voice for Prisoners, Father John visits the city’s prisons regularly, and that was how Cat learned about the canteen.

“Because I am still on bail and considering my age, it is challenging to find a job,” Cat explained. “Additionally, there have been tremendous changes in Hong Kong over the past three years, and many things are now done through smartphones. I need time to adapt.”

Another employee, Bee*, who served two sentences for drug possession, expressed how she found solace in working alongside others with criminal records: “We share similar pasts and experiences. It creates a more comfortable working environment,” the 40-year-old said.

“Here, I do not feel discrimination, and I don’t have to conceal my past as people who come here already know about it. If you work outside, you would need to hide the criminal record [to fit in].”

Father John relocated from Australia to Hong Kong in the 1980s. The priest reminisced about learning Cantonese in his first two years in Hong Kong before serving as a parish priest in Kowloon City and Lantau Island for over a decade. He then moved to the mainland to minister to the poor.

In 2008, he returned to Hong Kong and settled on Temple Street. Affectionately called “Temple Street Priest”, he dedicated himself to serving the homeless, drug addicts and the impoverished. The father was also visiting prisons regularly during this time.

Through two to three visits a week, the priest has done his best to address the needs of this vulnerable population, from connecting them with education opportunities to delivering letters from loved ones outside.

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According to the Correctional Services Department, the average daily penal population increased from 7,737 in 2019 to 8,498 in 2023. Many of them will eventually need help reintegrating into society.

Among all the incarcerated individuals, Father John is particularly concerned about the drug addicts. He stated: “When they come out of the drug treatment centre, many of them have nowhere to stay long-term, no job, no one will employ them, and they just get back into drugs.”

The priest added that many of them could not keep up with ordinary eight-hour-a-day jobs because of health issues, and he called for more support for ex-convicts in finding employment.

He suggested: “There could be some sort of special workshop in one big centre where you have accommodation and support groups for prisoners, and ... supervision and regular drug testing when they go out.”

Since it opened, the canteen has received overwhelming public support. Every day, they serve over 60 customers, and some come just to donate money.

“Lots of customers and people, even from overseas, have come to support us because they know we are helping needy people,” Father John said, noting that their dim sum was sourced from a five-star hotel supplier.

Father John envisions the eatery expanding its services to offer free meals to the poor: “We hope to employ one or two more people and prepare meals for the needy directly.”

He also aims to inspire other businesses in the city to follow suit. “I know there are already some places in this area [Jordon] ... [that] employ former prisoners as well. But I hope other businesses could do the same.”

Both staff members, Bee and Cat, also wish to challenge prevailing prejudices against ex-convicts.

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“Incarcerated people are not as bad as you might think,” Cat asserted. “For those who have made mistakes, many are genuinely committed to turning their lives around.”

“However, society often denies them a second chance, assuming that they are incapable of change. As a result, they have no way out but to return to their old ways, repeating the same mistakes.”

Bee added: “People often fail to understand why we made the decisions we did. Nobody wants bad things to happen to them. There are various factors at play, such as our environment and financial situation.”

“Who doesn’t make mistakes?” she pointed out. “Sometimes, ex-offenders can be even more compassionate since they have learned valuable lessons.”

“I hope society can provide us with more job opportunities, reduce prejudice and foster inclusivity.”

*Full name withheld at interviewee’s request.