AN immigration officer who was sacked after he had taken unpaid leave to study in Australia yesterday launched a second court bid to win back his job. Chan Hok-yee, 38, a public servant for 14 years, was fired in 1993 after he went to study for an MBA in Queensland, Australia. The former officer, now an academic, earned $33,000 a month at the time of his dismissal, which led to the loss of his civil service pension. Mr Chan said his request for a year's unpaid leave had been refused but he was granted three month's special leave ending on May 18, 1993. On May 26 he received a letter informing him he would be regarded as absent from May 19 and was warned he could be fired. Mr Chan claimed civil service regulations stated an officer had to be away from work for at least 21 days before having to explain the absence. He also claimed he was entitled to a proper investigation. Last November Mr Justice Liu refused an application for a judicial review. Mr Chan yesterday appealed against the decision. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
