Thousands of refugee torture claims pending

Archive


Does Hong Kong judge refugees as ‘bogus’ upon arrival?

Sep 26th, 2015 | Advocacy, Immigration, Racism, Rejection, VF Opinion | Comment

What happened to the universal and unalienable right to seek asylum?

What happened to the benefit of doubt through the assessment process?

What happened to trumpeted (but not respected) high standards of fairness?

What happened to critical thinking by media outlets?

What is happening to refugee rights in Hong Kong?

湧港經律師提酷刑聲請 假難民恐拖垮經濟

Hong Kong Government policy on seeking asylum: “According to the Secretary for Security, foreigners who smuggled themselves into Hong Kong, and visitors who overstayed their limit of stay allowed by the Immigration Department (“ImmD”) or who were refused entry by ImmD upon arrival in Hong Kong (collectively known as “illegal immigrants”) are liable to be removed from Hong Kong in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) (“the Ordinance”).  To safeguard immigration control and for public interest, they should be removed as soon as practicable.  However, pursuant to the United Nations Convention Against Torture which applies to Hong Kong since 1992, and multiple court rulings since 2004, ImmD cannot remove illegal immigrants to another country where they would face a genuine and personal risk of being subjected to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or persecution.  Moreover, the court rulings mandate that if an illegal immigrant alleges that he would face such risks upon removal to another country, he cannot be removed from Hong Kong to that country unless such risks are assessed by ImmD to be unsubstantiated under procedures which meet the high standards of fairness.”

 

Standard - Concerns rise over spike in `bogus refugee' claims

Hong Kong needs code of conduct and mutual respect on refugees

Sep 25th, 2015 | Immigration, Media, Rejection | Comment

SCMP - Hong Kong needs code of conduct and mutual respect on refugees

Harsher sentences for illegal work

Sep 24th, 2015 | Crime, Government, Immigration | Comment

Harsher sentences for working illegally

Why is Immigration targeting Indian refugees?

Sep 23rd, 2015 | Government, Immigration | Comment

Fact 1 – an average of 28 new claims are lodged at border crossings monthly.

Fact 2 – an average of 380 new claims are lodged with Immigration monthly.

Fact 3 – Immigration Press Releases in 2015 overwhelmingly single out Indian refugees.

We are often told in official documents that it is an indication of asylum abuse to apply for protection several months after a refugee arrives in Hong Kong. Now we are similarly made to understand that applying for protection as soon as a claimant arrives in Hong Kong and avails himself of a lawyer is also a possible indication of abuse.

Vision First queries, may the ImmD provide guidelines about what they consider a reasonable time to seek asylum?

Further, Immigration is upset as there are legal representatives assisting refugee upon arrival at Hong Kong border points. So the authorities have in effect lost control over the entry of refugees from the very start. This is a problem for Immigration as in the past refugees could be turned away without anyone knowing and /or they would be locked up in CIC detention without any legal knowledge or assistance. Immigration would then keep them locked up and put pressure on them and in effect fetter their USM claims as lawyers are hampered when asylum seekers are locked up.

Further, Immigration may also be upset at the raising of asylum claims from the start indicates a stronger asylum claim, and the increase in new claims suggests that these claims may not be easily rejected. So in effect Immigration has lost the oppressive controls they utilise over new arrivals. This also threatens a new flood of refugees raising their USM clams on arrival, rather than when arrested.

It is ironic as Immigration has always acted in a manner that has been oppressive and prejudicial to asylum seekers and now this opportunity to abuse is being dramatically removed from them. No one said Immigration would be happy if refugees raised their asylum claims upon arrival. All that the Immigration Appeal Board says is that these claimants are not real refugees as they failed to raise their USM claims at the earliest time. Immigration only used this excuse to rejects USM claims and to call such refugees “illegal immigrants and economic migrants” seeking to take jobs away from local people. Now it cannot be said that easily any more.

ImmD - Six passengers refused permission to land lodge claims for non-refoulement - 22Sep2015

No life, the refugee slums in Hong Kong

Sep 19th, 2015 | Housing, Immigration, Media, Racism, Rejection, Welfare | Comment

The plight of the refugees in Hong Kong, is the consequence of a system that isolates and leaves them in an endless waiting out of sight of the rest of the population in unsanitary slums. About 10,000 refugees live in of Hong Kong, mostly coming from Indian subcontinent, but also from Vietnam, Indonesia or Horn of Africa.

Most of them have fled persecution in their country, hoping to find refuge in Hong Kong. This city isn’t the haven they were hoping for. Hong Kong hasn’t signed the Geneva Convention and gives only a very small number of refugees status. Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, refugees are registered as asylum seeker and their passports are confiscated.

Normally, it takes three years to process their applications, but some are still waiting after eight years and they aren’t allow to work. Refugees have access only to tiny rooms in slums in the New Territories. Initially these slums weren’t made for housing, these are shacks,or former farms built or refurbished by unscrupulous owners.

Photographer: Emmanuel Serna

List of 69 refugee slums exposed by Vision First since March 2013

No life, the refugee slums in Hong Kong

Hong Kong citizens are not indifferent to plight of refugees

Sep 17th, 2015 | Immigration, Media | Comment

SCMP - Hong Kong citizens are not indifferent to plight of refugees

We want work, we want dignity

Sep 17th, 2015 | Immigration, Media, Refugee Community, Rejection, Welfare | Comment

Harbour Times - We want work, we want dignity

TVB Evening News on refugee march to EU office

Sep 15th, 2015 | Immigration, Media, Rejection, Welfare | Comment

TVB Evening News on RU march to EU office (12Sep2015)

Hundreds march in Hong Kong for Refugee Solidarity Day

Sep 15th, 2015 | Immigration, Media, Rejection | Comment

Coconuts - Hundreds march in Hong Kong for Refugee Solidarity Day

Hongkongers march to EU office in show of solidarity with refugees

Sep 15th, 2015 | Immigration, Media, Rejection | Comment

HKFP - Hongkongers march to EU office in show of solidarity with refugees