NATIONAL OPERATIONS
UNHCR Sub-Office Hong Kong (“SOHK”) is one office in our global network providing vital assistance to refugees and other persons of concern in more than 120 countries around the world. The local office is responsible for the promotion and protection of refugee rights in Hong Kong.
The permanent office of the UNHCR in Hong Kong was established in 1979 to cope with the influx of Vietnamese boat people. At first, the main objective of this office was to help the Vietnamese refugees, but over time, the goal has changed to include anyone who arrives in Hong Kong seeking asylum. The office also covers Macau SAR.
Because Hong Kong is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and has no legal framework governing the granting of asylum UNHCR carried the main responsibility for refugee status determination, assistance to asylum-seekers and refugees, as well as the identification and promotion of durable solutions (mostly resettlement) under its mandate. Mandate refugee status determination was implemented in accordance with the Procedural Standards in a complex operation with Applicants from approximately 47 countries.
On 25 March 2013, the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) found that the Director of Immigration has a duty to screen non-refoulement claims on grounds of, amongst other things, persecution risk (drawing reference to the principle of non-refoulement in Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention) before execution of removal / deportation of the claimant from Hong Kong to another country of putative persecution.
The HKSARG launched a unified screening mechanism (USM) to screen non-refoulement claims on 3 March 2014.
The USM is operated by the Government, not UNHCR. Upon the commencement of the USM the UNHCR ceased refugee status determination procedures in Hong Kong and transitioned to an advisory role in regards to refugee and asylum policy, marking a major development in the agency’s goals under its mandate.
• For information on the work and responsibilities of Sub-Office Hong Kong, please go to Our Work
