Hong Kong’s refugee claim system leaves many tough questions
Despite recent news linking asylum seekers to crime, official figures show that those involved represent a very small portion of the problem. But are claimants taking advantage of the system and is it too slow and biased, leading to exploitation?
Two years ago a new system was introduced to deal with people arriving in Hong Kong to seek refuge from what they say is persecution in their homeland.
“The unified screening system will enhance implementation of our policy objective to process claims for non-refoulement protection … and at the same time prevent abuse by economic migrants who aim to protract their unlawful stay in Hong Kong,” said a government spokesman at the time.
Fast-forward and the exact opposite appears to be the case.
In fact, 24 months after the new system came into effect – following legal rulings by Hong Kong’s highest court – the system is subject to an official review.
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The available facts and evidence from people who know the system suggest the cure has made a bad situation worse. It has, they say, created a process that is open to abuse not only by bogus asylum seekers but employers, lawyers and people-smuggling gangs.
For the government, blame lies predominantly with the very people the system was set up to benefit.