Prisoners’ Friends’ Association

The Prisoners’ Friends’ Association (PFA) (Chinese: 香港友愛會) is an association located in Tso Kung Square, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is a voluntary organization founded in 1982, and is independent while co-operating with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Correctional Service Department for prisoners' welfare. It arranges two types of services for long-term prisoners in Hong Kong: Prison Visitors and Pen Friends.

Background

Under the suggestion of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service Department (CSD), the association was established in 1982 to organise outside social contacts for prisoners who had had no visitors for more than ten years. The association recruits and vets volunteers to visit such prisoners.

Objectives

• To help the prisoners and their families to cope with imprisonment and to work towards rehabilitation and adjustment to society afterwards.
• To contribute to a reduction in crime.
• To suggest, encourage and support measures to improve prison conditions and the welfare of prisoners and their families.
• To give the prisoners hope for their future.
• To let prisoners keep in touch with what is happening in the world outside.
• To let people in the community know and care what happens to the prisonsers.
• To maintain the dignity of the prisoners.

Structure

An independent organisation, the PFA is made up of individuals of varied nationalities and backgrounds who have no history of imprisonment. Members under the age of 21 may serve as "pen friends" but do not ordinarily receive full membership. The PFA does cooperate with the CSD and Police, who determine who may visit the Prisons, but they are run by an elected Executive Committee that is not affiliated with either.

Current chief’s information

• Honorary President- Ms Margaret Ng

• Chairman- Jack Fung

• Vice Chairman- Charles McKnelly

• Secretary- Robert Allender

• Prison Visit Coordinator (Lantau Island)- Lorna T. Gabinera
• Member- Tess
• Administration Officer- Mary Cheung
• Newsletter editor- Robert Allender

Volunteers

Prison Visitor

Prison visitors are aimed at building up a friendship with prisoners. They are required to attend training sessions before entering the prison. After the training sessions, they can register to conduct a prison visit regularly accompanied by a prison officer. They also need to attend seminars given by senior members of the CSD, ex-prisoners and counselors.

To be a Prison Visitor, it is required to apply for a pass which allows entrance to any prison in Hong Kong and has an open visit with a prisoner. To apply:

Requirements for the application of Prison Visitor membership

1. A completed application form (for the PFA)
2. A completed authorization letter signed by the Police for checking criminal records
3. One Photocopy of a Hong Kong Identity Card
4. Two recent passport-sized photographs
5. An annual subscription of HK$200
6. A completed application form for a CSD Prison Visitor Pass

Once the application has been approved by the PFA Executive Committee, the application will be sent to the CSD to apply for a prison visitor’s pass.

Pen friends

Pen friends write to, but do not visit in person, prisoners. The PFA recommends that pen friends mail their correspondents every other week, with appropriately friendly letters sensitive to the realities of their existence.

It is not compulsory to apply for visitors before the application of pen friend volunteers. The application period is always from October 1 until September 30 the following year. To apply:

Requirements for the application of a Pen Friend membership:

1. A completed Application Form
2. A photocopy of a Hong Kong Identity Card for the checking of criminal records by the CSD
3. A recent passport-sized photograph
4. An annual membership fee of HK$100.00

An application will be considered successful if there are no previous criminal convictions on record

Past events

External links

• Correctional Services Department
• PFA
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Caritas Lok Heep Club
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation for drugs and abusers
• Society for the Aid & Rehabilitation of [...] Abusers (SARDA)
• The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong
• The Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association Ltd
• The Society for the Re-habilitation of Offenders (S.R.O.)