Due to the surge in the COVID-19 epidemic in July, the Correctional Services Department said it decided to suspend all non-emergency official visits at official visit rooms but applications by official visitors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The department made the statement today in response to a complaint made by council members through the media and on social media alleging that council members’ official visits to people in custody had been suspended since July.

It said the established Medical Response System was activated early this year to protect correctional officers, people in custody and various stakeholders.

Under the response system, the department has adopted a series of infection control measures, reduced the passage into and out of correctional institutions and prevented direct contact between people in custody and outside parties.

However, official visitors can still apply for official visits if necessary and approved visits are arranged to be conducted at social visit rooms where infection control measures are more effective as a glass panel is installed at each visit booth to completely separate people in custody and visitors.

The repeated assertion by council members that the department has suspended official visits is therefore not factually correct, it said.

Apart from social and official visits, people in custody can communicate with the outside world by letter at any time and they can lodge complaints through various channels, the department said.

It noted that disease prevention is of utmost importance but added that the visit arrangements will be adjusted in a timely manner according to the epidemic’s development.