ABOUT US
Why we help imprisoned drug trafficking victims
Voice for Prisoners (VFP) is a Hong Kong-registered non-profit organisation since 2018. It was born from the need to unify the work of several compassionate individuals who have laboured tirelessly for many years campaigning, lobbying and helping the under-represented prisoner community in Hong Kong.
We are indebted to the work of our volunteer supporters and board members – individuals with the heart to serve prisoners through their areas of expertise. VFP volunteers comprise prison chaplains, lawyers, ex-prisoners and members of other NGOs specialising in this area.
Our mission
We aim to…
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Provide humanitarian aid and assistance to prisoners in Hong Kong
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Reduce the number of drug traffickers entering and within Hong Kong
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Organise publicity campaigns in Hong Kong and overseas to raise awareness of the consequences of drug trafficking and vulnerability of victims
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Educate prisoners, their families and communities about the consequences of drug trafficking in Hong Kong and encourage them to participate in campaigns
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To network, engage and lobby for legal and penal reform with the aim of improving the rehabilitation of inmates
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Support, encourage and raise awareness of prison visitation through any media (TV, radio, digital, social, etc)
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Establish and moderate public forums to further our objectives
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Improve and increase communication and advertising to governments, administrations and communities in Hong Kong and overseas
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Encourage repatriation of all foreign inmates to their home countries
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Assist prisoners with further education so that, on release, they can secure better work opportunities
Accountability and governance
In order to achieve our mission and to ensure that our work has the greatest impact, Voice for Prisoners takes the responsibility of using our supporters’ donations to the best effect seriously and aspires to the highest standards of good governance.
You can view our Corporate Governance Manual, Annual Reports, and Audited Financial Reports from the links below
Board of Directors
John Budge
SBS MBE JP
Chairman
Melville Boase
Director
Patricia Ho
Director
John Wotherspoon
OBI
CEO
John has been practicing since 1980 as a solicitor in Hong Kong with Wilkinson & Grist, one of Hong Kong’s oldest firm of solicitors. He has been involved in many aspects of public service in Hong Kong for over 40 years. In 2016, he met Father John Wotherspoon and they decided to start Voice for Prisoners. John is the Chairman of The Hong Kong Club Foundation and Honorary Secretary of St. James’ Settlement.
Melville arrived in Hong Kong in 1977 as Crown Counsel for the Hong Kong Government. Since 1980, he has been in private practice and was co-founder of independent law firm, Boase, Cohen & Collins. He has been Treasurer of the Mission for Migrant Workers since 1981 and is also active in the Freemasons.
Patricia is a public law practitioner who has been involved in multiple judicial reviews and personal injuries cases involving human trafficking and refugee matters, migrant worker rights, transgender rights, disability rights, and child and family rights. She is a partner in Patricia Ho & Associates, a founder of the non-profit Hong Kong Dignity Institute, and a Principal Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong.
Father John of the Order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a Prison Chaplain. In 2013 he noticed the alarming number of foreigners who had been recruited as drug mules and started a campaign called No Mas Mulas in Spanish and No More Mules in English. In 2016, he and John Budge decided to form Voice for Prisoners. Father John is also a Director of MercyHK, an NGO specializing in services for the homeless in Hong Kong.