Hong Kong lawmakers, pastor call for greater transparency, accountability after homeless man dies in jail
- The circumstances surrounding the Vietnamese man’s death were suspicious, but authorities have yet to release CCTV footage, lawmaker says
- The death has also brought the plight of the city’s homeless back into the public eye
Opposition lawmakers and a local pastor are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of Hong Kong’s prisons after a Vietnamese street sleeper who accused police of abuse died in jail with a pair of trousers around his neck.
Lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, for the social welfare sector, said the death of Le Van Muoi was suspicious, and urged the Correctional Services Department to release relevant CCTV footage, questioning why the 54-year-old even had a pair of trousers given that he was supposed to be in summer attire.
“Where did they come from? That’s what we want to know,” he said.
Le, who had been camping out at the Tung Chau Street Park in Sham Shui Po for almost two decades, was remanded into custody in September while awaiting trial on drug charges, according to the department.
Earlier in the year, in February, he had been among a handful of street sleepers in the area who complained of rough treatment at the hands of police, including assault and property damage. As a result, nine officers were arrested on suspicion of offences ranging from criminal damage to perverting the course of justice.