Expanding Support for People in Immigration Detention

Detention is one of the most isolating and opaque parts of Hong Kong’s immigration system. For those detained—often in remote facilities and with limited access to legal support—the stakes are high and the pathways unclear. That’s why we’ve broadened the scope of our work to reach and support this particularly vulnerable group more effectively. 

Over the past year, Justice Centre has worked with a team of pro bono lawyers to begin conducting in-person legal visits. This collaboration has transformed the way we triage and respond to detention cases. Where we once relied on slow mail, we’re now able to connect more directly with detainees—gathering timely information and, in some cases, helping to prevent prolonged or unlawful detention. 

But access alone is not enough. Through our ongoing partnership, we’ve co-developed the first publicly accessible case law database focused on immigration detention in Hong Kong. This tool offers clear, practical summaries of relevant legal decisions and helps ensure lawyers, caseworkers, and community advocates can better support people at risk.  We’ve also launched a Detention Self-Help Toolkit, designed with input from the refugee community. It equips people with accessible, rights-based information to understand detention processes and make informed decisions about their cases. The toolkit is not only in use by our clients, but has become a key resource in community trainings, including our Paralegals for Protection programme which empowers refugee women to support others in similar situations. 

These efforts reflect our broader commitment to legal empowerment—helping individuals and communities navigate the system with dignity, knowledge, and agency. With our partners, we are continuing to build practical, collaborative solutions to meet the real challenges of immigration detention.