RE HACHIMOU ABDALLAH

CACV 73/2025, [2025] HKCA 1090

On Appeal From [2025] HKCA 620

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL APPEAL NO 73 OF 2025

(ON APPEAL FROM HCAL NO 2349 OF 2019)

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J U D G M E N T

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Hon Au JA (giving the Judgment of the Court):

1.  On 18 July 2025, the applicant filed a Notice of Motion to apply for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal against this court’s judgment of 8 July 2025 (“the Judgment”)  ([2025] HKCA 620). In the Judgment, we dismissed the applicant’s appeal against the decision of Deputy High Court Judge KW Lung (“the Judge”)  dated 6 February 2025, by which the Judge dismissed his application for leave to apply for judicial review ([2025] HKCFI 284).

2.  The facts and issues in the appeal, as well as this court’s reasons for dismissing it, are set out in the Judgment.  We will not repeat them here.  After reviewing the Notice of Motion, we see no reason to deviate from the usual practice to consider this application on paper pursuant to paragraph 3 of Practice Direction 2.1.

3.  Section 22(1)(b)  of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance, Cap 484 (“the HKCFAO”)  provides that an appeal shall lie to the Court of Final Appeal at the discretion of this court or the Court of Final Appeal if the question involved in the appeal is one which, by reason of its great general or public importance, or otherwise, ought to be submitted to the Court of Final Appeal for decision.

4.  In his Notice of Motion, the applicant stated:

“I still maintain that my life is in danger. There are errors of law or procedural unfairness or irrationality in both decisions of the Director of Immigration and the Board. Especially, failure to consider state acquiescence. The decision makers relied exessely on country of origin information based on the fact-finding from facebook and media journalists forgetting that there is general insecurity in my country.” (sic)

5.  Contrary to Practice Direction 2.1, the applicant did not lodge any written submissions in support of his application.

6.  In our view, the applicant’s application is plainly devoid of merit.  His assertions are all vague, bare and unsupported by any specific particular or evidence.  General assertions of his fear if refouled do not constitute proper grounds of appeal: Re Saldua Dorothy Trifalgar [2022] HKCA 627 at [6].  More importantly, all his assertions are directed at the Board’s Decision and he fails to identify any specific error in the Judgment.  His submissions do not constitute proper grounds of appeal.

7.  Further and in any event, even taking his case at its highest, his allegations remain fact-specific and do not relate to any question of great general or public importance.

8.  Accordingly, the applicant has failed to identify any question of great general or public importance, as required by section 22(1)(b)  of the HKCFAO.  We also do not see any basis for granting leave on the “or otherwise” limb under section 22(1)(b)  of the HKCFAO.

9.  For these reasons, the applicant’s intended appeal has no merit. Accordingly, the Notice of Motion filed on 18 July 2025 is dismissed.