NGUYEN VAN THAO v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD

CACV 759/2025, [2026] HKCA 694

On Appeal From [2025] HKCFI 3900

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL APPEAL NO 759 OF 2025

(ON APPEAL FROM HCAL NO 1513 OF 2020)

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BETWEEN

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JUDGMENT

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The Court:

INTRODUCTION

1.  This is the Applicant’s appeal against the order of Deputy High Court Judge Bruno Chan (“the Judge”) dated 11 September 2025 (“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 2 July 2020 (“the Board’s Decision”).

BACKGROUND

2.  The Applicant is a national of Vietnam. On 12 October 2016, the Applicant lodged a non-refoulement claim on the basis that, if refouled, he would be harmed or killed by the family of the victim killed by him in a traffic accident.[1] The Applicant’s non-refoulement claim was rejected by the Director of Immigration (“the Director”) on 14 September 2018, and the appeal against the Director’s decision was rejected by the Board on 2 July 2020. 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, the hyperlink to which can be found in the CALL-1 Form dated 11 September 2025.[2]

3.  The Applicant’s application for leave to apply for judicial review was refused by the Judge on 11 September 2025. 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 18 September 2025, the Applicant essentially argues that he would be beaten or even killed by the family of the victim killed by him in a traffic accident if he returned, that the Director failed to appreciate or properly assess the viability of internal relocation, and that the Director failed to consider his human rights.

5.  In the 5-page skeleton arguments lodged on 4 March 2026, apart from reiterating his non-refoulement claim, the Applicant argues that:

(1) He would face serious risk of persecution if returned to Vietnam.

(2) Returning to Vietnam is not a viable option for him.

(3) He should be allowed to remain in Hong Kong based on exceptional humanitarian circumstances.

(4) He should be given assistance in resettling in a third country where he can live safely.

6.  At the hearing on 25 March 2026, the applicant had nothing to add to his written submissions.

DISCUSSION & DISPOSITION

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 will not intervene by way of judicial review unless there are errors of law or procedural unfairness or irrationality in the decision of the Board: Re Kartini [2019] HKCA 1022.

9.  The matters raised in the Applicant’s Notice of Appeal and written submissions are all general allegations without particulars. They do not relate to the Judge’s reasons for refusing to grant leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review and do not constitute any valid grounds of appeal against the Judge’s decision. Furthermore, general assertions of fear if refouled do not constitute proper grounds of appeal: Re Saldua Dorothy Trifalgar [2022] HKCA 627 at [6].

10.  The Applicant has failed to identify or show 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.