Re Atik Dwi Purwanti

CACV 572/2026, [2026] HKCA 1384

On Appeal From [2026] HKCFI 2532

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL APPEAL NO 572 OF 2026

(ON APPEAL FROM HCAL NO 1266 OF 2022)

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J U D G M E N T

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Hon Au JA (giving the Judgment of the Court):

INTRODUCTION

1.This is the applicant’s appeal against the order of Deputy High Court Judge (Non-refoulement Claims) Ken To (“the Judge”) dated 22 May 2026[1] (“the Order”) refusing to grant leave to apply for judicial review of the decision of the Torture Claims Appeal Board / Non‑refoulement Claims Petition Office (“the Board”) dated 18 October 2022 (“the Board’s Decision”).

BACKGROUND

2.The applicant is a national of Indonesia.  She made a non‑refoulement claim on the basis that, if refouled, she would be harmed or killed by a moneylender named Iwan owing to a loan dispute. Her claim was rejected by the Director of Immigration (“the Director”) on 28 April 2021, and the appeal against the Director’s decision was rejected by the Board on 18 October 2022.  Details of the applicant’s claim and the Board’s reasons for rejecting the applicant’s appeal can be found in the Board’s Decision.

3.The applicant’s application for leave to apply for judicial review was refused by the Judge on 22 May 2026.  Details of the Judge’s reasons for refusing to grant leave can be found in the CALL-1 Form.

GROUNDS OF APPEAL

4.In the Notice of Appeal filed on 3 June 2026, the applicant stated that:

“I want to appeal agains the decision the decision reached unreasonable please review my Application.” (sic)

5.In the skeleton argument lodged on 26 June 2026, apart from reiterating the factual basis and procedural history of her non-refoulement claim, the applicant only stated that all the decisions reached were unreasonable, and further alleged that she had more information to prove her claims, yet failed to condescend upon particulars.

6.We heard the appeal on 21 July 2026.  The applicant attended the hearing in person with the assistance of an Indonesian interpreter and confirmed that she had nothing further to add.

LEGAL PRINCIPLES

7.In an appeal against refusal of leave to apply for judicial review in non-refoulement cases, the Court of Appeal would only examine the decision of the judge in light of the grounds advanced by the applicant.  If no viable ground is put forward to reverse the judge’s decision, the appeal should be dismissed.  The Court of Appeal’s role is not to examine the Board’s decision afresh as if it was a fresh application for judicial review (see Nupur Mst v Director of Immigration [2018] HKCA 524, at §14(6)).

8.The assessment of evidence, country of origin information, risk of harm, state protection and viability of internal relocation are primarily within the province of the Board and the Director.  The court below will not intervene by way of judicial review unless there are errors of law, procedural unfairness or irrationality in the decision of the Board: Re Kartini [2019] HKCA 1022.

DISCUSSION & DISPOSITION

9.The matters raised in the applicant’s Notice of Appeal and skeleton argument are all bare allegations without particulars. They do not constitute any valid grounds of appeal against the Judge’s decision.

10.The applicant has failed to identify or substantiate any error in the Judge’s decision refusing to grant leave to apply for judicial review, or raise any viable ground of appeal against the Order.

11.The applicant’s appeal has no merit, and is dismissed.

The applicant acting in person