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Immigration reports 24% rise in removal of unsubstantiated asylum seekers

02 February 2025

 

Some of those removed since the new policy took effect in 2022

The Immigration Department has informed the Legislative Council that it removed 2,219 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong in 2024. This represents a 24% increase compared with that in 2023.

The “unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimant” term refers to non-Chinese people who were unable to present credible evidence to support their application against being sent back, or refouled, to their home countries.  

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According to the Immigration report, this is in line with the updated removal policy that took effect on Dec. 7, 2022. Under this policy, Immigration may generally proceed with the removal of an unsubstantiated claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance.

Since the implementation of the policy, a total of 4,070 failed asylum seekers have been removed from Hong Kong, said Immigration.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

At the same time, it has speeded up the screening of non-refoulement claims, with over 2,700 such claims being determined last year. However, over 95% of the claimants rejected by Immigration have appealed against the decisions.

As of the end of 2024, there were about 750 such appeals pending decision.

A new system rolled out by Hong Kong on Sept 3 last year is expected to lessen the number of non-refoulement claimants entering Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN DITO

Under the Advance Passenger Information (API) System, airlines are required to transmit advance information to Immigration about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong when checking in travellers. The system then gives the airline staff directions on whether to allow or disallow specific travellers to board the Hong Kong-bound aircraft.

However, the new mechanism is being rolled out in phases, given that there more than 100 airlines that need to be connected to the system.

Basahin ang detalye!

A transitional period of 12 months is provided for the new system, which means it will be fully implemented  on Sept 1 this year.

 

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