Harsh Conditions and Systemic Abuse Inside Hong Kong’s Prisons

During a night in 2022 at Lai Chi Kok prison, I witnessed prisoners being brutally beaten by guards in a secluded hallway. The victim, bloodied and slouched, was hurried past me, with another inmate whispering for me to stay away. As the only American imprisoned during Hong Kong’s crackdown on political activism, I experienced firsthand the systemic cruelty that prevails behind bars.

A recent report, “‘We Were Made to Suffer’: Systemic Abuse and Political Control Inside Hong Kong’s Prisons,” details the alarming conditions based on interviews with 17 former inmates and corroborated by open records. It reveals that prisoners face regular violence, sexual assaults, medical neglect, and inhumane detention environments. Guards often attack inmates in unmonitored areas; juvenile facilities enable staff and inmate collaborators to abuse younger prisoners, often with immunity.

Inmates are denied prompt treatment for grave injuries or mental health issues, with cells overrun by pests, overflowing toilets, and extreme heat. For example, Conde Mamady, a prisoner from Guinea, was ignored despite his worsening health; he ultimately died after guards delayed care until it was too late.

Prison conditions breach international standards, with authorities frequently placing political prisoners in prolonged solitary confinement—often disguising punishment as a voluntary choice—yet these periods often extend beyond the legal limit of 28 days, nearing torture thresholds. Prominent activists like Jimmy Lai and Leung Kwok-hung have been subjected to years of near-total isolation, with the goal of breaking their spirits and deterring others.

I personally endured months of trauma, which still affects me today. Countless prisoners remain incarcerated for years, emerging with lasting physical and psychological scars—conditions deliberately inflicted by authorities aiming to suppress dissent.

The UN’s upcoming General Assembly provides an opportunity for governments to condemn these abuses publicly and demand investigations into Hong Kong’s prison system. While serious resolutions are unlikely due to geopolitical influence, the spotlight can promote future actions by international human rights bodies, similar to those taken regarding Uyghurs in China.