Letters | Community effort needed to give Hong Kong’s former prisoners a fresh start

The recent policy address’s pledge that the Correctional Services Department will launch one-stop rehabilitation services for people in custody serving sentences of less than a year – and track their post-release progress – is both timely and visionary. This initiative, which will be conducted in partnership with SidebySide and the University of Hong Kong with funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, recognises that the end of a prison term is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a complex process of reintegration.

Criminological research on desistance – the process by which individuals stop engaging in crime – shows that change is rarely instantaneous. It is gradual, dynamic and influenced by multiple factors. At its heart lies a transformation of identity: moving from seeing oneself as an “offender” to embracing a new, pro-social self. This shift is often nurtured by significant others – family members, life partners, close friends, mentors – and professionals whose belief in the individual’s capacity to change can provide both motivation and emotional grounding. Their understanding, patience and encouragement are often decisive in helping a person resist the pull of old habits and environments.

The government’s plan to track rehabilitation outcomes is also important from a research perspective. A longitudinal approach, though labour-intensive and resource-demanding, allows us to observe the desistance process in detail over time. Such insights not only inform tailored, individual-level interventions, but also guide broader policy reforms and community strategies. Long-term data can reveal when and why setbacks occur, which supports are most effective, and how societal attitudes and opportunities influence the likelihood of lasting crime prevention, residents’ personal capacity building, and social inclusion changes.

Yet, no matter how well-designed professional services are, they cannot succeed in isolation. The community – employers, neighbours, civic groups and all of us as Hong Kong residents – must play an active role in creating an environment where returning individuals can feel welcome and rebuild their lives. This means offering opportunities for work and education, but also extending empathy and acceptance. People who have served their sentences have fulfilled their legal obligations; they deserve the dignity of a future not permanently defined by their past mistakes. When we help someone after they have served their sentence for a past mistake, we help renew our community too.

Paul W.C. Wong, associate professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, and Anthea S.W. Lee, CEO, SidebySide

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