Jealousy over treatment sparked chaos

Sunday night's prison riot followed long-running jealousy and discontent among inmates over perceived preferential treatment given to Vietnamese prisoners, sources said yesterday.

Thirty-five people were injured in the seven-hour riot at the Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre off Lantau Island.

One source said the grudge between the 446 local inmates and 13 Vietnamese started about a year ago when prison management began a series of construction initiatives aimed at making Hei Ling Chau environmentally friendly. Projects included construction of several gardens near the cell wards and staff dormitory. A number of fish ponds were built.

Due to their stronger build, Vietnamese inmates were chosen as the first batch of prisoners to perform construction work. Local inmates became increasingly upset by management's preference for the Vietnamese and claimed favours were granted to them, one source said.

The disgruntled locals were also upset that some Vietnamese were allowed to use rice cookers in their cells while others had electric fans in summer. During outdoor work at the pier areas, the Vietnamese were reportedly allowed to swim and catch small clams without being punished, the source said.

The flashpoint on Sunday night was believed to be a verbal exchange between a Vietnamese inmate and a local prisoner in the canteen. The Vietnamese prisoner allegedly threw the first punch and a gang fight quickly followed. Guards pushed the Vietnamese back to their cells while subduing the local inmates, who then turned on the officers, another source said.