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In response to media enquiries on immigration detainees refusing to take food at the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC), a spokesperson from the Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (May 31) made the following statement:
"Eighteen immigration detainees of CIC started to refuse food provided by the management in the morning of May 28 (Wednesday) to express their wish for early release. Despite that CSD staff advised them to take food and referred their request to the relevant authorities, 145 detainees refuse to take food in the following evening (May 29).
"Disregarding the continuous advice and assistance by Correctional staff, the immigration detainees stepped up their protest against detention under Immigration Ordinance by refusing to get back to their assigned dormitories yesterday (May 30) evening. They finally got back to the dormitories on our advice."
The spokesperson continued: "This evening, 101 immigration detainees refused to take food. Out of which, 85 of them refused to get back to their assigned dormitories too, but again, they got back to the dormitories following a lengthy counselling by our colleagues."
Situation remained calm in the centre without any complaints against treatment while no immigration detainee reported sick as a result of refusing to take food, the spokesperson added.
Ends/Saturday, May 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 23:56
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