Refugees
A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalised violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection. In Hong Kong, refugees commonly live in limbo as they grapple with prolonged uncertainty about their future. They are fed up with navigating broken systems and many find their dignity is slowly being chipped away, or even disintegrating.
SOLOMON’S STORY
In Hong Kong, refugees commonly live in limbo as they grapple with prolonged uncertainty about their future. They are fed up with navigating broken systems and many find their dignity is slowly being chipped away, or even disintegrating. Solomon's story is sadly not uncommon...
At Hong Kong Dignity Institute we have been assisting Solomon, Dora, and their family through their journey, providing ongoing legal and psychological support. Solomon’s case shows the difficulties faced by asylum seekers who have families in Hong Kong, and the strenuous task of having to succeed in being granted protection by Hong Kong.
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A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalised violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection.
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An asylum seeker is a person who has left their home country and is seeking asylum in another. Asylum seekers are often looking for official refugee status in a new country.
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An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to leave their home but remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the legal definitions of a refugee.
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A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a national by any state. Some stateless people are also refugees. However, not all refugees are stateless, and many people who are stateless have never crossed an international border.
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A migrant is a person who moves from one place to another, often to find work or better living conditions.
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Refoulement is the forcible return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they are liable to be subjected to persecution.
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The practice of not forcing refugees or asylum seekers to return to a country where they may be liable to be subjected to persecution.
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2024 marks 10 years since the establishment of the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM). UNHCR ceased asylum screening in Hong Kong on 3 March 2014 when the USM became operational. The USM is the process the Hong Kong Government uses to screen all claims lodged by persons not having the right to enter and remain in Hong Kong, on the basis that removing them to another country would expose them to risks of, including torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and/or persecution.