SARR DAWDA v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD / NON-REFOULEMENT CLAIMS PETITION OFFICE

CACV 470/2025, [2026] HKCA 533

On appeal from [2025] HKCFI 2677

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 470 OF 2025

(ON APPEAL FROM HCAL NO. 333 OF 2019)

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J U D G M E N T

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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 3 July 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 1 February 2019 (“the Board’s Decision”) whereby the Board dismissed his appeal against the decisions of the Director of Immigration (“the Director”) dated 16 May 2016 and 29 June 2017 (“the Director’s Decisions”).

BACKGROUND

2.  The applicant is a national of the Gambia. He lodged a non-refoulement claim with the Immigration Department on the basis that, if refouled, he would be harmed or killed by the Gambian police and authorities arising from their investigation of his father’s affair and/or for breaching his own bail conditions. The applicant’s non-refoulement claim was rejected by the Director, and his appeal was rejected by the Board. A summary of the applicant’s background and his process before the Director and the Board can be found in the Form CALL‑1.

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

GROUNDS OF APPEAL

4.  By a notice of appeal filed on 8 July 2025, the applicant sought to appeal the Judge’s decision to this court. For the grounds of appeal, the applicant stated that:

“the Applicant will face hardship if he is return back to his home country and that the Torture Claims Appeal Board has significantly relied on the source of news which is not officially recognized, or it is simply hearsay. They have also relied on some cases which are outdated considering the dramatic changes. The lack of credible source of information has resulted in them making groundless speculations.”

5.  In the applicant’s written submission lodged on 5 March 2026, he reiterated his claim and disputed the Judge’s decision without advancing any argument with substance.

6.  The appeal was heard on 23 March 2026. The applicant attended the hearing in person and added that he had some medical issues.

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.  In the present case, no error of law, procedural unfairness or irrationality in the decision of the Board was detected by the Judge or was pointed out by the applicant apart from the bare assertions as stated in his grounds of appeal and in his written submission, which were not substantiated with any specific information or elaboration.

10.  It is incumbent on the applicant to point out the Judge’s errors with sufficient particulars. In our view, the matters set out in the applicant’s notice of appeal and written submission failed to identify any error on the part of the Judge. They do not constitute any viable grounds of appeal and lack substance. We see no basis to interfere with the Judge’s decision.

11.  For the above reasons, the applicant’s appeal is devoid of merits. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.