Hello there from prison
YEAH! YEAH!
This is definitely worth celebrating: According to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Rule 44, “.... Prolonged solitary confinement shall refer to solitary confinement for a period in excess of 15 consecutive days.” Although this rule is not applicable to the Correctional Services Department Prison rules, I’m going to congratulate myself for having been confined alone for 15 days. YEAH! “Prolonged Solitary Confinement” is my proud status.
My daily routine:
Folding blanket is a MUST. One time I folded my blanket in a ratio of 16:9, and I got reprimanded right away. A 4:3 ratio1 is strictly enforced. Am I in military service?
The prison security guards investigate the cells 3 times a day (we call it “Tek Dau” or “Kicking nest”) – once in the morning, once at noon and once at night.
During the senior staff’s patrol, we are obliged to say: “Good Morning”. There are two patrols in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The doctors will walk pass the cells every morning, thus there is no need to go to the hospital when you get sick.
Designated “room service” for the three meals. Water will be brought to the cells on a regular basis.
One-hour communal time.
Mail will be picked up and delivered to the cells. Newspaper will also be delivered.
Except for the one-hour communal time, I must spend the remaining 23 hours in the cell alone.
During the social visits, (“bai san” in Cantonese, which means “tomb sweeping”), official visits, and lawyer’s visits, I will be escorted by a team of Special Duty Officers (SDU). I can go directly to the visitation room without waiting. One time on my way to the visitation room, an inmate approached me. The staff chewed him out immediately, “Stand still! Give way!!!” Another time, also on my way to the visitation room, an inmate asked when I could go “downhill” (i.e., to be removed from solitary confinement). The staff yelled, “No talking allowed!” (As I was not allowed to socialize with other prisoners.) When did the CSD staff become so dedicated to their jobs?
I spend my time in the cell reading books, jotting notes, reading letters and writing back, reading newspapers, and listening to the radio. If I get tired, I can take a nap anytime.
Having been moved to the 7th floor, I can only rely on my own will power. There are no handfeet here, no chatting, no socializing.
Mandela 2.0
7 July 2020
1 TVs only come in an aspect ratio of 4:3, not 16:9. Pillow must be stacked on top of the folded blanket.
