A Catholic-run rehabilitation facility in Hong Kong is offering a new approach to addiction recovery, focusing on long-term reintegration and addressing persistent relapse challenges among former drug users.
MercyHK Paradise, a development center in Sha Tau Kok for men recovering from substance addiction, was blessed last month by diocesan chancellor Father Lawrence Lee Len, according to the Sunday Examiner.
Opened in September last year, the center provides a year-long residential program for men aged 18 to 45 who have completed hospital treatment.
Its model emphasizes not only physical recovery but also the rebuilding of relationships, identity, and social responsibility.
The initiative responds to high relapse rates often linked to limited post-rehabilitation support. Its program combines physical training, psychological care, vocational preparation, and spiritual formation to help residents transition back into society.
Eddie Chan Chi-kong, director of MercyHK, said the center was designed to move away from restrictive models of care. “We focus on establishing connections and helping residents feel loved, which we see as the core motivation for self-transformation,” he said.
Faith-based formation is a core component of the program. In partnership with the Diocesan Catechism Centre, the center offers a three-month Alpha Course that introduces participants to Christian teachings while encouraging reflection on life, family, and death.
Oblate Father John Wotherspoon, founder of MercyHK, expressed hope that the center’s environment would support sustained recovery, describing it as “a comfortable space to support their ongoing recovery.”
During the blessing ceremony, Father Lee underscored the need for greater empathy toward people facing hardship, sharing stories that pointed to the struggles of those living on the margins.
The program includes structured activities such as fitness training, counselling, pet therapy, gardening, and volunteer work, encouraging residents to rebuild routines and restore relationships with their families.
It also supports economic reintegration through job training and certification. To help residents build financial stability, the center retains their monthly government allowance of HK$2,520 and returns the full amount upon completion of the program.
Admission is limited to nine residents and is based on commitment to recovery. A seven-day “cooling-off” period is required for those considering leaving early, as part of efforts to encourage completion.
Supported by professional volunteers and funded through the government’s Beat Drugs Fund, the Keswick Foundation, and public donations, the center forms part of broader Church-backed efforts to address addiction through sustained care and community support.
