Vanuatu sues immigration agent for libel over visa scheme
Consultant denigrated island's visa scheme in an effort to boost his client, Gambia, writ says
The government of Vanuatu is suing a well-known Hong Kong immigration consultant over comments he made about the country's permanent residency visa, which the island state claims led to a substantial drop in applications.
The High Court writ claims Eddie Kwan King-hung, who runs EK Immigration Consulting, criticised the Pacific nation because he had been hired by Gambia to market the West African country's permanent residency programme, which is in competition with Vanuatu's programme.
Kwan was quoted in an article in Next Magazine on October 17 as saying he considered Vanuatu "politically unstable".
Kwan also said there was "no certainty and security in any co-operation with the Vanuatu government" and that he had turned down a chance to be a consultant for Vanuatu.
The lawsuit was filed by the Vanuatu government and immigration officer Samuel Virakwahe, who is attached to its embassy in Beijing and deals with visa applications from Hong Kong and the mainland.
The writ says Kwan's words were "calculated to disparage" the visa programme.
Kwan had "greatly damaged" their reputation and international status and caused the public to question the legitimacy of the visa programme. Kwan is also accused of having deterred potential applicants.