Prison Beatings Spark Outrage in Hong Kong
In a small cell on Pik Uk Correctional Institution, 21‑year‑old Roy Cheung last week told Reuters that prison guards were giving him a slap‑and‑pinch regimen that outpacing any street‑corner brawl. A man who was incarcerated for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a pro‑democracy protest in October says guards routinely slapped him, slapped him with a ruler and elbowed his spine.
Melody‑Triggered Mistreatment
On the 7th of February, Cheung shared that he and five other inmates sang “Glory to Hong Kong,” the chant that rallied activists. The next day he got a “handshake” from a guard who told him to thank him as the punch landed. The guards apparently used this as an excuse to punish “the choir.”
Complaint Filed – Justice Still in Quest
After his eight‑month term, from November 2nd through June 30th, Cheung filed an official complaint with the Complaints Investigation Unit in May. He never got a copy of the complaint he submitted, ruining the evidence trail. The department’s commissioner replied in a letter dated July 10th that an investigation was underway.
A spokesman from the Correctional Services Department refused to comment on individual cases, saying the Complaints Investigation Unit would conduct a “fair, just, and detailed” inquiry into all complaints.
Calling Out the Problem
Cheung wants to expose his case publicly to prevent the same mistreatment for other detained protesters. He says the daily guard inspections and periods of solitary confinement made his stay feel like a conspiracy thriller.
Voices of Other Young Protesters
- Tom, Ivan, Jackson, and Henry, ages 18‑19, also spoke to Reuters about abuse at Pik Uk. Their legal teams won bail refusals, so they were briefly detained before being released.
- Their accounts echo Cheung’s: guards “hit them in ways to avoid bruising and scars” and in blind spots where no CCTV film a move—think stairways or bathrooms.
- Despite the allegations, none of them filed a formal complaint. “Retaliation fear” keeps them from returning to the facility without a case.
Department Reassures Investigation
The Correctional Services Department reports it is looking into the men’s accusations. No link yet, but they remain “awaiting trial.” They didn’t produce a concise summary, much like a hermit crab that keeps its shell.
The Glass is Already Schizophrenic
In the end, the story paints a picture of a restrained environment where the troops on the ground are as harsh as the laws they uphold. The public will surely keep a keen eye on the next update. Meanwhile, Cheung’s hostel: a “bumpy ride” through the prison.
Human rights complaint
Prison Heatwave: Demosisto’s Battle with the Guards
June saw the pro‑democracy outfit Demosisto file a formal complaint—relaying the tales of Tom, Ivan, and Jackson—about what they claim is a full‑scale assault in Pik Uk prison. They took the matter to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, hoping for a scolding, but the UN politely sidestepped with a “no comment” stance.
What the Complaint Tells Us
Per the public statement from Demosisto, the guards in Pik Uk allegedly treated the protest prisoners like a human traffic lights, with:
- Slaps and elbow‑thrusters to the spine
- Hands and feet met with sticks, rulers, or police batons
- Calls for “squatting naked” while questioning—no CCTV to lighten the mood
As the tale goes, Joshua Wong—once the breakout man of the 2014 Umbrella protests and now a former prisoner—shared his own indignities. He filed a complaint with the Correctional Services Department (CSD), but an internal probe last year declared it “unfounded.” The CSD refuses to reveal the details, arguing privacy over transparency.
The Disbanding Demosisto
Unfortunately, the saga dovetails with the timeline of Demosisto’s dissolution on June 30, after China pushed the national security law that turns any act of subversion or independence advocacy into a “life‑sentence” threat.
Why No One is Saying Anything
When reporters asked Singapore’s senior info officer Lam Tsz Wai and other government spokespeople, they were directed back to the prisons department for comment. China’s foreign ministry, the State Council Information Office, and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing all remained stubbornly silent.
Prison Profile
At Pik Uk Correctional Institution, a 385‑seat facility hosts 16‑ to 21‑year‑old males awaiting trial or already convicted. Over the past year, Hong Kong lawmaker Shiu Ka Chun says at least 55 protestors have been held there since June 2019, with 22 still in confinement as of now. The CSD, however, refuses to confirm any numbers.
Meanwhile, the police say they’ve arrested 9,672 individuals and pressed charges against 2,093 since the protests got violent in June last year. In May, the first protester pleading guilty to the rioting charge was handed a four‑year sentence. Over 1,600 faces await trial on related charges, per government data.
So, while the UN and CSD remain tight‑lipped, the story lives on—highlighting the raw reality behind the Hong Kong protests and the human cost that goes beyond headlines.
