NGUYEN THI LAN v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD / NON-REFOULEMENT CLAIMS PETITION OFFICE

HCAL 1217/2019

[2024] HKCFI 498

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

NO 1217 OF 2019

_____________

BETWEEN

_____________

_____________

D E C I S I O N

_____________

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 31 October 2023 (“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.  In her affirmation filed on 20 November 2023, the applicant said that she asks for extension of time to appeal against the Court’s decision. She understands that there is a good ground of appeal that is not necessarily considered at the stage of applying for leave for judicial review.

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 on paper 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.

7.  The deadline for her appeal is 15 November 2023. The applicant is late for 5 days. I shall consider the merits of her case.

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.  The applicant’s claim was based upon her allegation that if refouled, she would be harmed or killed by the moneylender called Bao Deu due to an outstanding debt. The Director rejected her claim for not being substantiated. She appealed to the Board.

10.  Having considered the evidence, the Board found that the applicant failed to establish that she would have any real risk of being harmed or killed by the money-lender; that state protection would be available to her and internal relocation was a viable option. It therefore dismissed her appeal.

11.  The applicant has not been able to raise any valid reason to challenge the Board’s Decision. Thus, there is not any realistic prospect of success in her intended appeal.

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