Re Harpreet Singh

HCAL 1159/2019

[2021] HKCFI 1964

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

NO  1159 OF 2019

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Before: Deputy High Court Judge K.W. Lung in Chambers

Date of Decision: 4 August 2021

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D E C I S I O N

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The application

1.The applicant is an illegal immigrant and he lodged a non-refoulement claim with the Director of Immigration (“the Director”).  The Director rejected his application and he appealed to the Torture Claims Appeal Board (“the Board”).  Having considered his evidence, the Board, by its Decision (“the Board’s Decision”), rejected his appeal and affirmed the Director’s Decision.

2.Pursuant to Order 53, rule 3(2) of the Rules of the High Court (“RHC”), the applicant filed Form No. 86 to apply for leave to apply for judicial review of the Board’s Decision.

3.The applicant then lodged a letter which was received on 11 May 2020 with the Court seeking to withdraw his application because his problems had been solved.

4.By Order dated 6 July 2020 (“the Court’s decision”), the Court dismissed his application because he had no intention of proceeding with his application.

5.The applicant filed a summons dated 10 August 2020 applying for extension of time to appeal against the Court’s decision.  The file was misplaced and the application has not been dealt with within the usual time.

6.In his affirmation in support of his application, he said that he was being detained and he did not have legal advice.  He also said that he was misled by his friend that his problem had been solved. He considered that there was good ground of appeal that was not necessarily considered at this stage.

Discussion

7.Pursuant to Order 32, rule 11 and 11A of the RHC, having considered the applicant’s reason, I decide to determine this application without an oral hearing.

8.In Re Adumekwe Rowland Ejike [2019] HKCA 702, the Court of Appeal held:

“19. The prospect of success of the intended appeal is important: the court will not grant extension for a hopeless appeal to be pursued, see Re Rahman Wasif [2019] HKCA 299 at [13]; Re Kpamou Gbotoi Bernard [2019] HKCA 168; and Re Irshad Muhammad [2018] HKCA 864 at [16].”

9.His reasons above are not accepted.

10.He is unable to show that he has any reasonable chance of success in his intended appeal.

11.In the circumstances, I refuse to extend time for his appeal.  Accordingly, I dismiss his application.

The applicant was unrepresented.