Kowloon, Hong Kong

Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre

Hong Kong (China)

Status

Closed/ceased migrant detention

2025

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Immigration Department, Immigration Department, Immigration Department, Immigration Department

Management: Immigration Department (Governmental)

Detains: Adult women, Adult men, Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
87
47

31 December 2022

Yes

7 July 2019

Hong Kong (China)

5,549

Migration Detainee Entries

52,506

Apprehensions of Non-Citizens

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ABOUT

Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre is in the Ma Tau Kok Road Government Offices in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The facility is an administrative immigration detention facility run by the Immigration Department. It is primarily used for short-term detention, however detention periods of one week and above have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FACILITY NAMES
Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre

Alternative Names: 馬頭角羈留中心 [Ma Tau Kok Detention Center]

Location

Country: Hong Kong (China)

City & Region: Kowloon, Hong Kong, Asia-Pacific

Latitude, Longitude: 22.32291021180431, 114.18740961189562

Contact Information
1st and 2nd Floor, Ma Tau Kok Road Govt Offices, 1 Ma Tau Kok Road, Kowloon

Tel. +852 21946478

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
Closed/ceased migrant detention
2025
Closed/ceased migrant detention
2024
In use
2024
In use
2022
In use
2021
Last documented use
2018
In use
2014
In use
2013
In use
2011
In use
2009
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2018
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2014
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2013
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2011
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2009
Management
Management
Type
Year
Immigration Department
Governmental
2018
Immigration Department
Governmental
2014
Immigration Department
Governmental
2013
Immigration Department
Governmental
2011
Immigration Department
Governmental
2009
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
Immigration Department
Security Bureau
Internal or Public Security
2014
Immigration Department
Security Bureau
Internal or Public Security
2013
Immigration Department
Security Bureau
Internal or Public Security
2011
Immigration Department
Security Bureau
Internal or Public Security
2009
Facility owner
Owner type
Owner name
Year
Government
Immigration Department
2023
Estimated annual facility budget (in USD)
Amount (USD)
Services
Year
3,022,015
Staffing Food
2023
2,853,297
Staffing Food
2022
2,800,057
Staffing Food
2021
2,576,281
Staffing Food
2020
2,507,337
Staffing Food
2019
2,470,303
Staffing Food
2018
2,364,142
Staffing Food
2017
Operating Period
Year of entry
Year ceased
1998
2024

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult women

2024

Adult men

2024
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2013

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2011

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2009
Countries of Origin

Country #1 China

Country #2 Indonesia

Country #3 India

Country #4 Philippines

Country #5 Thailand

2024

Country #1 Indonesia

Country #2 China

Country #3 Bangladesh

Country #4 India

Country #5 Philippines

2023

Country #1 China

Country #2 Indonesia

Country #3 Philippines

Country #4 Vietnam

Country #5 India

2022
At-Risk Populations

Elderly (over 60)

2022

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 87

2024

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 87

2018

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 87

2013

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 87

2011

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 87

2008
Facility Average Daily Population (year)

Number 54

2022

Number 59

2021

Number 41

2020

Number 33

2019

Number 42

2018

Number 48

2017

Number 43

2016

Number 37

2015

Number 39

2014

Number 47

2013

Number 45

2012

Number 38

2011

Number 50

2010
Total Migration Detainees: Entries + Remaining from Previous Year

Number 15437

2018

Number 17752

2017

Number 15680

2016

Number 13683

2015

Number 14150

2014

Number 17143

2013

Number 16673

2012

Number 13800

2011
Migration Detainee Entries

Number 3541

2023

Number 2566

2022

Number 3783

2021

Number 3893

2020

Number 3936

2019

Number 5069

2018

Number 5261

2017

Number 5164

2016

Number 4974

2015

Number 4256

2014

Number 5048

2013

Number 5567

2012

Number 5487

2011

Number 6766

2010
Number of men detained (year)

981

2024

1687

2023

1196

2022

1886

2021

2267

2020
Number of women detained (year)

788

2024

1854

2023

1370

2022

1897

2021

1626

2020
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
47
31 December 2022
59
31 December 2021
43
31 December 2020
10
31 December 2019
22
31 December 2018
25
31 December 2017
40
31 December 2016
26
31 December 2015
25
31 December 2014
44
31 December 2013
74
31 December 2012
37
31 December 2011
24
31 December 2010
Number of men detained on single day
Number
Date
8
31 December 2010
1
31 December 2011
42
31 December 2012
38
31 December 2013
20
31 December 2014
16
31 December 2015
27
31 December 2016
15
31 December 2017
11
31 December 2018
3
31 December 2019
18
31 December 2020
26
31 December 2021
15
31 December 2022
35
31 January 2022
8
28 February 2022
20
31 March 2022
20
30 April 2022
25
31 May 2022
25
30 June 2022
15
31 July 2022
30
31 August 2022
25
30 September 2022
24
31 October 2022
30
30 November 2022
Number of women detained on single day
Number
Date
16
31 December 2010
36
31 December 2011
32
31 December 2012
6
31 December 2013
5
31 December 2014
10
31 December 2015
13
31 December 2016
10
31 December 2017
11
31 December 2018
7
31 December 2019
25
31 December 2020
33
31 December 2021
32
31 December 2022
33
30 November 2022
34
31 October 2022
32
30 September 2022
33
31 August 2022
35
31 July 2022
32
30 June 2022
37
31 May 2022
35
30 April 2022
25
31 March 2022
13
28 February 2022
37
31 January 2022
Number of children (under 18) detained on single day
Number
Date
1
31 December 2017
1
31 May 2018

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Medium-term (4-20 days)

2022

Length Medium-term (4-20 days)

2021

Length Medium-term (4-20 days)

2020

Length Medium-term (4-20 days)

2019

Length Medium-term (4-20 days)

2018

Length Short-term (3 days or less)

2017

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2014

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

CARCERAL INDICATORS

External Security Regime

Secure

2014

Secure

2013

Secure

2011

Secure

2009

STAFF

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Yes

2024

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Possibility to Prepare Own Meals

No

2023

HEALTH

Reports of Deaths
Name of deceased individual
Date of death
Dinh Thi Tan
7 July 2019
Reports of self-harming
Self harm reported
Incident/Report date
Yes
7 July
Yes
Yes
No
Reports of Injury/Physical Harm
Injury/physical harm reported
Incident/Report date
N.A.
2022
Health Impacts
Health Impacts
Obvs. Date
Self-harming
2022
Self-harming
2021

MONITORING & ACCESS

Lawyer Access

Infrequently

2023
Family Access

Yes

2023

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Access to Telephones

Yes

2023
Free Outgoing Local Calls

Yes

2023