One-way permit illegally issued
A BUSINESSMAN'S attempt to overturn the Director of Immigration's decision to deny him entry to Hong Kong failed at the High Court yesterday.
There was sufficient evidence for the director to conclude that the businessman's one-way permit was either false or unlawfully issued, Mr Justice Patrick Chan ruled.
Dismissing an application for judicial review lodged by Tsui Siu-wai, Mr Justice Chan ruled that the director could not be criticised for acting irrationally or unreasonably.
The refusal to let Tsui stay in Hong Kong and to take him into custody pending removal was the result of an investigation into questionable one-way permits.
Tsui, 35, had contended that the director's decision was absurd and that he had no power to declare invalid a permit issued by a friendly nation.
The court heard that Tsui, a Chinese national, was issued with a one-way exit permit in Hunan and used it to enter Hong Kong on August 7, 1993.
He was granted a Hong Kong identity card and frequently travelled between Hong Kong and China. However, on his return on June 16 this year, he was refused entry.
The Chinese authorities said that permits were issued in numerical order and Tsui's had not yet been issued and did not pertain to Hunan.
Tsui will appeal against the ruling.
