RE SORIANO DEBBIE MANALO

HCAL 2172/2018

[2022] HKCFI 1514

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST

NO 2172 OF 2018

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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 and she lodged a non-refoulement claim with the Director of Immigration (the “Director”). The Director, by his Decision, 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 Form CALL-1 dated 23 February 2022 (the “Court’s decision”), the Court dismissed her application for the reason that there is no realistic prospect of success in her intended judicial review. The deadline for her to file her notice of appeal is 10 March 2022 (14 days after 23 February 2022).

4.  The applicant filed a summons on 20 April 2022 for appeal against the Court’s decision out of time. The deadline for her to file her notice of appeal is 9 March 2022.

5.  In her affirmation in support of her application, she said she could not file the notice of appeal because the court was closed because of the pandemic disease. The Court Registry was closed between 7 March 2022 and 11 April 2022. The deadline for her appeal is therefore 16 April 2022 (4 days from 12 April 2022).

Discussion

6.  Pursuant to Order 32, rule 11 and 11A of the RHC, having considered the applicant’s reasons, I decide to determine this application without an oral hearing.

7.  In AW v. Director of Immigration and William Lam CACV 63 of 2015, 3 November 2015, §27 the Court of Appeal held that for extension of time for making the application for leave to apply for judicial review, the Court has to consider (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. Nevertheless, I shall consider the merits of the 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 claimed that if refouled, she would be harmed or killed by her husband Soriano Rhey because she refused to sell her house for repayment of his debts.

10.  The Director rejected her claim for the reason that it was not substantiated. The Director found that the level of risk of her being harmed or killed by Rhey was assessed to be low; that state protection would be available to her and that internal relocation was an option open to her.

11.  She appealed to the Board. The Board identified several inconsistences in the material aspects of the applicant’s claim, such as why she did not report to the police and the extent of her claimed injuries [66]. The Board rejected her claim that Rhey attacked her for her failure to sell the land. Viewed in totality, the Board refused to accept the applicant as a credible witness.

12.  The applicant is unable to set out any valid ground to challenge the Board’s Decision. Nor can she point out any error on the part of this Court in the assessment of her application.

13.  There is no realistic prospect of success in her intended appeal. I therefore refuse to extend time for her to appeal and dismiss her application.