I
applied for a prison visitor’s pass through Prisoners’ Friends’ Association (http://www.pfa.org.hk/eng/resources/pv1.htm)
in 2010 as per Sr. Flora’s suggestion because there
are several Indonesians in the Hong Kong
correctional institutions. Mr. Jack Fung, the chairman of Prisoners’ Friend’s
Association, helped to book the room to meet an Indonesian inmate in Lo Wu Correctional Institution
but I couldn’t visit her yet as they were preparing the re-opening ceremony and
I should leave for Guangzhou
on Sep 3, 2010. http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2010/09/sharing-part-time-ministry-in-hong-kong.html. Several months later, I did my first visit
with Srs. Felicitas and Flora followed by several
visits during my language study break.
I started to visit Putonghua
speaking inmates in Lo Wu Correctional Institution on Jan 9,
2012. Most of the times, I asked questions and listened to their sad stories
and if I didn’t understand what they said, we changed the topics. http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2012/01/sharing-last-two-months-of-third.html.
Starting
last Jul 2012, Ms. Li asked me to visit Tai Lam Institution
Centre for Women, around two hours from our convent, because there are enough
visitors at Lo Wu Correctional Institution. I met the inmates
in one of the rooms of the social welfare office so it’s in a more friendly
situation. After a while, I also meet
English speaking inmates. There were times
when the officer asked a Vietnamese inmate and a Spanish
speaking inmate to meet me,
we couldn’t speak to each other at all so I made body languages: both hands in
my chest, bow my head and make sign of the cross as a sign to offer to pray
together. They agreed so we prayed
together. To the Spanish speaking inmate,
I pointed to myself and said “hermana” a Spanish word for “sister”, later on
she said there was another Spanish speaking inmate who can speak English outside
so we called her to be a translator.
During the last two years, I met inmates from mainland China, Indonesia,
Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Latin America.
The reasons of their imprisonment are various, e.g.
overstaying, working illegally, stealing, drug trafficking. The general reasons are looking for better
financial situation, even though several of them said they are not guilty.
Several of them didn’t want to talk a lot, several of
them wanted to talk a lot, even wanted to meet again. One or two of them could share their stories
with smile, several of them were in tears most of our time together. Several of them couldn’t sleep well, most of
them could eat well.
I do know I only can do simple things in our short
encounter: being presence, listening to their stories, answering their
questions, and praying with them, sometimes I couldn’t hold my tears as they
were in tears.
Last Oct 23, I joined “Prison Walk 2012”, an annual
fundraising of PFA. We met at Shau Kei
Wan MTR station and then went by bus to Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre. There are 52 participants from several
nationalities including non-member. An
officer gave a presentation about the training centre for the young
offenders. After the presentation, we
walked to the beautiful Big
Wave Beach. The PFA’s treasurer Mr. Robert Allender gave
me more information about the PFA on the way to the beach. We stayed at the beach for a while and then everyone
can decide whether staying longer or walking to Chai Wan MTR station. I decided to go Chai Wan MTR with Mr. Robert
Allender, the walk leader Ms. Tess Kimura, Mr. Junichi and two Japanese
guys. It’s around 3 hours walk in total
including climbing the hill and going down through the Chai Wan cemetery. My legs started to be in pain the next day
afternoon. It’s a very nice to meet several
new friends, including Mrs. Sue Lau and PFA chairman Mr. Jack Fung whom I
communicated by email and telephone during the last two years. 
After
visiting Tai Lam CI on Nov 1, I attended the 30th Anniversary Annual
Gathering Meeting of PFA at Duke of Windsor Social Service Building. AGM started with call to order by MC Ms. Beverly
Chau and Ms. Heidi Cheng and welcoming remarks to Official Guests from PFA
Chairman Mr. Jack Fung. Vice Chairman Mrs.
Lorna Gabinera read two letters of appreciation from former members. There are more than 30 participants,
including Correctional Service Department (CSD) officers, member and non-
member. Honorable Commisioner of
Correctional Services Mr. Sin Yat Kin gave address followed by giving
certificate of appreciation for several categories. He said that over the past 30 years, members
of PFA have given unfailing support to persons in custody and he is sure that
the PFA will continue to shine and guide persons in custody towards a bright
future. I received certificate of
appreciation as “Prison Walk 2012 Top Fundraiser”. For sure, this certificate is also given to
my very generous friends who sponsored my participation at Prison Walk 2012. After that, Mr. Tam Po Shek entertained us
with his beautiful “dongxiao” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiao_%28flute%29)
performance. Previous Chairman of PFA Rev. Charles
McKnelly gave message followed by supper and the
opportunity to dialogue with CSD officers.
The second parts of AGM were annual report of activities by Mr. Jack
Fung followed by PFA Treasurer’s report by Mrs. Tess Kimura and election of
Executive Committee 2010-2011. In his
report, Mr. Jack Fung said that there are 86 visiting members and 30 pen
pals. Recently PFA printed 3,300 copies
of bilingual newsletter, which was sponsored by the Matilda Sedan Chair Race
funding, to be distributed to different institutions in Hong Kong. As a result, more inmates ask for a pen
friend and express their appreciation in reading them.
Hong
Kong, 5 November 2012
Sr.
Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s
do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible
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