8th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held a certificate presentation ceremony at Stanley Prison today, recognising the educational achievements of 38 inmates who have pursued various courses and public examinations over the past year. Among those honoured was Ah Chun, who has made history as the first person in custody to receive a doctorate from a local university.
Having been incarcerated since the 1990s, Ah Chun dedicated 24 years to his studies, starting from secondary school qualifications to ultimately earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Speaking at the ceremony while donning his doctoral cap, he shared the challenges he faced during his studies and reflected on a poignant moment from over a decade ago when his mother expressed her pride, saying, “I’ve never hugged you like this before.”
Ah Chun revealed that his motivation to study stemmed from a desire to understand his circumstances, having felt he was not an evil person prior to his incarceration. He refrained from disclosing the reasons for his imprisonment or the length of his sentence during the interview.
He expressed his emotions following the achievement, stating, “I did it! I found out that I could achieve this.” His commitment to education was not just for his own benefit but also aimed at giving his mother a yearly opportunity to embrace him.
Throughout his educational journey, Ah Chun credited his parents as his greatest supporters, inviting them to join him on stage to share heartfelt moments. He recalled how his mother once said, “I won’t leave this world before you do,” a sentiment that has driven him throughout his life. He also expressed his hopes of making his father proud, asking, “Can this small achievement make you proud of me today?” This moment led to an emotional embrace between father and son.
Ah Chun’s path to earning his doctorate was anything but easy. He began his studies in prison by taking the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, later pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and completing his Master’s in 2012. His journey to the doctoral level took eight years, as he faced multiple challenges in gaining admission to the programme.
Studying in prison presented unique obstacles, including limited access to resources and the need for external assistance for research materials. Ah Chun remarked on the difficulties of learning within prison walls, stating, “Studying here is really hard,” and shared that he often had to rely on a dictionary for translations, as internet access was restricted.
Despite facing skepticism from fellow inmates who questioned the value of his education, Ah Chun remained resolute. His doctoral thesis examined the motivations and challenges faced by inmates in their academic pursuits, concluding that the most powerful drive for incarcerated individuals is the desire to become better versions of themselves.
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