21 Sep 2015
The Immigration Department (ImmD) refused entry to Hong Kong to six Indian males arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and China Ferry Terminal on September 16, 18 and 20. All of these passengers lodged claims for non-refoulement as soon as they were refused permission to land.
On September 16, two Indian passengers arrived at Hong Kong International Airport via Kuala Lumpur from India. After immigration examination, they were refused permission to land on the same day as they both failed to meet the normal immigration requirements. While waiting for removal, the legal representative of these two passengers lodged claims for non-refoulement on their behalf.
In addition, two Indian passengers arrived in Hong Kong from Macau via China Ferry Terminal on September 18, as well as two others on September 20. Prior to the arrival of these four passengers, the same legal representative made written requests to the ImmD acting on their behalf. During immigration examinations, it was found that these four passengers had been refused permission to enter Hong Kong at the China Ferry Terminal on August 18, 2015, as the purpose of their visit was in doubt, and they were thereafter removed to Macau. As these four Indian passengers again failed to meet the normal immigration requirements, they were again refused permission to land. However, their legal representative immediately lodged claims for non-refoulement on their behalf.
All these non-refoulement claims are being processed. The ImmD will conduct further investigation on whether or not there is any person who intentionally arranged for these passengers to lodge claims for non-refoulement in Hong Kong.
A rising trend has been observed in which claimants have lodged claims for non-refoulement upon arrival in Hong Kong. There were 150 cases referred from control points (monthly average: 12.5 cases) in the period from March 3, 2013, to March 2, 2014. From the commencement of the unified screening mechanism on March 3, 2014, to the end of 2014, there were about 200 non-refoulement claim cases referred from control points (monthly average: 20 cases). In 2015, as at the end of August, the number of non-refoulement claims referred from control points was 228 cases (monthly average: 28.5 cases), which indicates a rising trend of lodging claims at control points.