黄国兴去信New York Post反驳评论文章 斥毫无根据及恶意诽谤

惩教署署长黄国兴去信New York Post（纽约邮报），强烈反对及驳斥该媒体9月7日的一篇评论文章，指出该文章对惩教署运作的指控完全是虚假、毫无根据及恶意诽谤。黄国兴强调，惩教署致力于确保一个安全、人道及健康的羁押环境，并高度重视所有惩教机构的纪律和专业，以及设立了透明且完善的申诉机制，文中所指惩教机构普遍存在虐待、医疗疏忽或生活条件恶劣的指控，完全毫无根据。

黄国兴在信中反驳指，惩教署致力于确保一个安全、人道、体面和健康的羁押环境，并为在囚人士提供合适的更生计划，帮助他们改过自新。他又指，惩教署高度重视所有惩教机构的纪律和专业，香港根本没有所谓的「政治犯」，所有在押人员均一视同仁，不会因其背景、政治观点或罪行性质而受到歧视。惩教署在所有运作中严格遵守公正和专业的原则，任何在押人员或惩教署人员的违法行为均会受到严肃处理，并会根据既定机制转介相关执法机构进行调查。

黄国兴称，近年来，一些涉及严重罪行的激进罪犯被送入惩教机构。他们中的许多人是在极端思想或错误观念的影响下，被煽动犯下违法行为。为了满足这些人的更生需要，惩教署推出了「沿途有『理』计划」，旨在帮助在押人员加深了解中国历史文化，培养国家认同感，重建正向价值观，并重建生活。他指，所有在押人员均可自愿参与此项目，「我们谴责任何将更生计画妖魔化为『灌输』的行为」。

黄国兴呼吁公众信赖已核实的事实，拒绝虚假信息，避免被那些蓄意抹黑惩教署及特区政府的言论所蒙蔽。

黄国兴英文全文如下：

September 9, 2025

The Editor,

New York Post

Dear Editor,

We strongly oppose and categorically refute the allegations made in the opinion piece by Samuel Bickett titled “I was an American political prisoner in Hong Kong – and saw the savagery and squalor firsthand” (September 7). The claims regarding the operations of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) are utterly false and baseless and amount to a malicious smear on our department.

The CSD is committed to ensuring a secure, safe, humane, decent and healthy custodial environment and providing appropriate rehabilitation programmes to persons in custody (PICs) to help them turn a new leaf. The allegations that abuse, medical neglect, or substandard living conditions are prevalent within our correctional institutions are wholly unfounded.

The Department places the utmost importance on discipline and professionalism across all correctional facilities. There are no so-called “political prisoners” in Hong Kong. All PICs are treated equally, without discrimination on the grounds of background, political views or the nature of their offences. The CSD adheres strictly to the principles of impartiality and professionalism in all its operations. Any illegal acts committed by PICs or CSD staff are taken seriously and are referred to relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation in accordance with established mechanisms.

Contrary to the claims made in the article, medical care services provided to PICs are comprehensive and robust. The CSD provides basic medical care services to all PICs at the on-premises hospitals in correctional institutions where medical examinations and appropriate treatments or referrals to specialists of public hospitals are provided to PICs whenever necessary.

The CSD has also taken extensive measures to continuously improve the custodial environment and to ensure the well-being of PICs. These include the installation of antisuicide safety fans, the progressive replacement of ventilation systems, the addition of industrial fans, and the installation of new gates and windows with improved ventilation efficiency. Further steps, including trials of heat-insulating coatings on buildings and the provision of hand fans and ice cooling towels, have demonstrated our proactive approach to address hot weather conditions.

The Prison Rules (Cap. 234A) empowers the CSD to remove a PIC from association with other PICs for purposes such as safeguarding the interests or personal safety of the PICs. Request for removal from association may be made by PICs and CSD may make such arrangements after considering the relevant factors in accordance with the legal requirements and procedures.

In recent years, a number of radical offenders involved in serious offenses have been admitted to correctional institutions. Many were incited to commit illegal acts under the influence of extremist ideologies or misconceptions. To address the rehabilitation needs of these individuals, the CSD has introduced Project PATH. This initiative aims to assist PICs in developing a better understanding of Chinese history and culture, fostering a sense of national identity, reconstructing positive values, and rebuilding their lives. All PICs may join the project voluntarily. We condemn any attempt to demonise the rehabilitation programmes as “indoctrination”.

It is important to note that transparent and well-established complaint mechanisms are in place for PICs to raise grievances. PICs can lodge their complaints through various internal and external channels. Besides, the Justices of the Peace carry out relevant statutory duties such as investigating complaints made to them by PICs, inspecting diets and examining the physical conditions, hygiene and accommodation facilities of the institutions. Deaths in official custody must be reported to the coroner who is required by law to hold an inquest. Regarding Bickett’s imprisonment, our records confirm that he has never raised any complaints throughout his incarceration, be it about himself or other PICs.

The CSD will continue to discharge its duties in strict accordance with the law, ensuring the security of correctional institutions while safeguarding the rights, dignity, and welfare of all PICs. We urge the public to rely on verified facts, reject misinformation, and avoid falling prey to narratives that deliberately seek to discredit the CSD and the HKSAR Government.

WONG Kwok-hing

Commissioner of the Correctional Services Department

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region