Duong Thi Thu Huong v. Torture Claims Appeal Board / Non-refoulement Claims Petition Office

HCAL 1442/2019

[2024] HKCFI 2477

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST NO 1442 OF 2019

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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 by staying in Hong Kong without permission and she lodged a non-refoulement claim with the Director of Immigration (“the Director”).  The Director rejected her application and she appealed to the Torture Claims Appeal Board (“the Board”).  Having considered her evidence, the Board, by its Decision (“the Board’s Decision”), rejected her 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.By Order dated 7 March 2024 (“the Court’s decision”), the Court dismissed her application for the reason that there was no realistic prospect of success in her intended application.

4.The Court’s decision was sent to the applicant on 7 March 2024 without being returned by the Post Office.  She was deemed to receive the Court’s decision.[1]

5.The deadline for her to file her notice of appeal is 21 March 2024.

6.In her summon filed on 17 July 2024, the applicant asked for extension of time to file her notice of appeal.  In her affirmation in support of her application, the applicant said her family member told her that it was dangerous for her to return as she would be killed.  She has no means to instruct a private lawyer.

7.Her application for appeal is late for about three and a half months.

Discussion

8.Pursuant to Order 32, rule 11 and 11A of the RHC, having considered the applicant’s reason, I decide to determine this application on paper without an oral hearing[2].

9.The Court shall consider the factors as set out in AW v. Director of Immigration and William Lam [2016] 2 HKC 393 at para. 27(3) in considering if extension of time should be extended: (1) the length of delay; (2) the reasons for the delay; (3) the prospect of the intended appeal; and (4) the prejudice to the putative respondent if extension of time was granted.

10.I shall consider the merits of her case.

11.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].”

12.The applicant’s claim was based upon her allegation that if refouled, she would be harmed or even killed by her creditor because she failed to repay the loan.

13.The Director rejected her application for the reason that her claim was not substantiated.  She appealed to the Board.

14.The Board disbelieved her evidence, and found that state protection would be available to her; and that internal relocation was a viable option for her.

15.The applicant has raised no valid ground to challenge the Board’s finding of the facts.

16.There is no realistic prospect of success in her intended appeal.

17.In the circumstances, I refuse to extend time for her appeal. Accordingly, I dismiss her application.

The applicant was unrepresented