PHAM VAN NGHI v. TORTURE CLAIMS APPEAL BOARD / NON-REFOULEMENT CLAIMS PETITION OFFICE

HCAL 1819/2023

[2026] HKCFI 1054

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LIST No. 1819 of 2023

Application for Leave to Apply for Judicial Review

NOTIFICATION of the Judge’s decision (Ord. 53 r. 3)

Following;

	consideration of documents only;          or
	consideration of documents and oral submissions by the Applicant in open court;

1.  Application to withdraw the application for leave to apply for Judicial Review (“Form 86”) be refused; and

2.  Application for leave to apply for Judicial Review be dismissed.

Observations for the Applicant:

Introduction

1.  This is the Applicant’s application by Form 86 filed on 10 October 2023 for leave to apply for judicial review (the “leave application”) of the decision of the Torture Claims Appeal Board / Non-Refoulement Claims Petition Office (the “Board”) dismissing his appeal against the decision of the Director of Immigration refusing his application for non-refoulement protection (the “Decision”).

Discussion and conclusion

2.  On 20 January 2026, the Applicant applied by affirmation to withdraw his leave application (the “withdrawal application”) asserting that it is now safe for him  to return to his home country and that he wishes to return. To ensure that the withdrawal is valid and properly made, the Applicant was given directions by letter dated 23 January 2026 (the “directions letter”) to file an affirmation or a statement confirming:

(a)  that his withdrawal application is made out of his own free will;

(b)  that he will be safe to return to his home country; and

(c)  that he understands that if his withdrawal application is approved, the Decision of the Board dismissing his appeal against the decision of the Director of Immigration refusing his application for non-refoulement protection remains in force.

He was also advised that if no affirmation or statement shall have been filed as required, his withdrawal application will be refused and the leave application may be dismissed for want of prosecution unless he informs the Court of his intention to proceed with the leave application within 14 days of the directions letter.

3.  Fourteen days have lapsed since the date of the directions. As at the date of this Form CALL-1 the Applicant has not filed any affirmation or statement or responded. In the light of the Court’s directions, the Applicant must understand that if he does not respond, his withdrawal application may be refused and his leave application may be determined or dismissed for want of prosecution. His withdrawal application also evinces a lack of intention to prosecute his leave application.

4.  Having considered the nature and grounds of the application, the issues raised, the Decision, the papers, the applicable legal principles and all the circumstances, the Court considered that the leave application may be justly determined on paper without an oral hearing. Having also rigorously examined the Decision, the papers and the evidence with anxious scrutiny, the Court is satisfied that there is no apparent errors of law or procedural unfairness in the Decision or in the making of the Decision. The Decision is not Wednesbury unreasonable or irrational. The Court therefore considered it appropriate to refuse his withdrawal application and dismiss his leave application for want of prosecution.

Where leave to apply has been granted, Applicants and their legal advisers are reminded of their obligation to reconsider the merits of their application in the light of the Respondent’s evidence

Form CALL-1