AHMED SHAKEEL v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD/ NON-REFOULEMENT CLAIMS PETITION OFFICE

HCAL 794/2019

[2023] HKCFI 521

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

NO 794 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 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.  By Order dated 10 January 2023 (“the Court’s decision”), the Court dismissed his application for the reason that there is no reasonable prospect of success in his proposed judicial review.

4.  The applicant filed a summons on 27 January 2023 applying for extension of time to appeal against the Court’s decision. In his affirmation in support of his application, he said that his enemies are still threatening him and his life will be in danger if he returns to Pakistan.

Discussion

5.  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.

6.  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. The deadline for his appeal is 25 January 2023. The applicant is late for only 2 days. I shall, nevertheless, consider the merits of his case.

7.  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].”

8.  The applicant’s claim is that, if refouled, he would be harmed or killed by members from the Shia sect as he belonged to the Sunni sect. 

9.  The Director of Immigration refused his application for the reason that his claim was groundless. He appealed to the Board.

10.  Having considered the evidence, the Board found that it was implausible that a member of a much larger religious group, i.e., the Sunni sect, would be persecuted by a minority group, namely, the Shia sect; that the applicant was unable to provide any details to the alleged fights; that his account before the Board bore no resemblance to those provided before the Director and he simply stated that he could not recall when inquired for details; and that it showed that the applicant failed to provide any accounts from his own experience.  In these premises, the Board found that the applicant’s claim lacked credibility and dismissed his appeal.

11.  The applicant has raised no valid reason in his affirmation to show that he has any realistic prospect of success in his intended appeal.

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