ANACHEBE CHIBUZOR REUBEN v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD / NON-REFOULEMENT CLAIMS PETITION OFFICE

HCAL 878/2019

[2023] HKCFI 3119

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

NO 878 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 Decisions (“the Board’s Decisions”), rejected his appeal and affirmed the Director’s Decisions.

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 5 October 2023 (“the Court’s decision”), the Court dismissed his application for the reason that there was no realistic prospect of success in his intended application.

4.  By summons filed on 30 October 2023, the applicant applied for appeal the Court’s decision out of time.

5.  In his affirmation in support of his application, the applicant said,

“… The decision made by the High Court Judge K.W. Lung has been reached unfairly without allowing me an opportunity to clarify my case and situation in my country. Moreover, it’s not sufficient that was a litigant in person & unrepresented, thereby making me unaware of the rules regarding the time limit. I humbly request the Court to allow me appeal out of time and give me a chance to explain.”

Discussion

6.  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.

7.  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.

8.  The deadline for his appeal is 20 October 2023. The applicant is late for 10 days. I will consider the merits of his case.

9.  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].”

10.  The applicant’s claim was based upon his allegation that if refouled, he would be harmed or killed by the OGB Brotherhood (“OGB”), a branch of a Nigeria-based religious movement named Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (“BCS”), because he refused their request to kill a man as part of the rite.

11.  The Director rejected his claim for not being substantiated. He appealed to the Board.

12.  Having considered the evidence, the Board did not accept his evidence on the main facts in support of his case. It further found that state protection and internal relocation were available to him.

13.  As the applicant did not request a hearing for his application, under Order 53, rule 3(3) of the Rules of the High Court[1], his application has to be dealt with on paper.

14.  The applicant has not been able to raise any valid reason to challenge the Board’s Decision. There is not any realistic prospect of success in his intended appeal.

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