Text: Wong Yee Yan, Pun Tip
Photos from Refugee Union
Fleeing their homeland, torture claimants, also called as asylum seekers or refugees, regretted their decision to start a new life in Hong Kong, trapping them between the devil and the deep blue sea.
“I wish I had never went to Hong Kong. People treat us like animals.” complained hopelessly last Tuesday by Raymond, a refugee from Iran and also the Chairman of Refugee Union Hong Kong.
Born in Afghanistan, Mohammadi Rahma, also known as Raymond, escaped to Iran with his family when he was 5 after his brother got shot in 1978 Afghan civil war. His family then became the refugees in Iran. It makes Raymond to be aware of the inhumane treatment of refugees in this Middle East country.
He used to be an engineer at the time in Iran. He also helped other refugees in Iran to fight against the government for more refugee’s right, in order to improve their situation.
“Finally I got political problem with the Iranian government. It made me run away from Iran and end up staying in Hong Kong in 2007 to seek ‘torture claim’.”
He is still waiting for resettlement to the third country after being recognized as a refugee from the United Nations in 2011.
There are over 13,000 similar cases in HK. According to the figures provided by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, until June 2014, there were 8,031 successful non-refoulement claims while 7,960 pending torture claims.
Refugees, however, have brought social issue to Hong Kong. There was an increasing trend of crime from torture claimants in the past few years in the city.
According to figures released by Hong Kong Police Force, the number of criminal cases involving refugees increased by 30 percent from 683 cases in 2012 to 824 cases last year, including illegal employment, robbery, drug trafficking and other triads activities.
A Sri-Lankan torture claimant was arrested for alleged keeping a drug divan and an arsenal of weapons during a police raid on May 5.
Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of Police Force stated after the raid that there was evidence showing that local triads have hired refugees to engage in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking. It shows that this group of refugees may hinder the city’s security.
In response to the issue, Raymond, the Refugee Union leader, blamed International Social Services Hong Kong (ISS-HK) and the government for making this deplorable situation.
He explained that during the at least 8-years of processing torture claim and staying in Hong Kong, torture claimants have no legal right to work. Each individual can only rely on the rent subsidy of HK$1,500 per month and food provided by ISS-HK.
Apart from the rent subsidy, Raymond complained that the food provided by ISS is not enough for their basic needs. Refugees have been received rotten or expired food too. “They did not treat us as human being! We are just an animal in their eyes.”
Raymond thought that no legal working right with insufficient living subsidy could only make their situation worse. This is one of the reason why refugees are forced to violate the law.
In fact, ISS is the outsourcing partner of the Social Welfare Department of HKSAR Government. ISS, which is a non-governmental organization (NGO), receives $2500 million each year from the government for giving assistance to the refugees.
Refugee Union Hong Kong, a refugee union formed by torture claimants, is doubtful on ISS in giving enough rent and food assistance.
From the statement the union released on World Refugee Day (June 20, 2014), the union thought “ the current welfare program structured around ISS-HK is a massive liability to the government and taxpayers who are pouring tens of millions of dollars into a failed system.”
The union has already carried out various protests to voice out their discontentment and requests, including occupying ISS-HK’s office and the pedestrian bridge near IFC from Feb to Aug 2014 for 200 days. The leader said they did not decide any further protest yet, but they will continue to express their wants in the future.
ISS has responded to the critics made by Refugee Union. From their statement, the NGO stressed the refugees’ assistance, including food and housing aid, was under the “contractual requirement” made between Social Welfare Department and ISS.
Being blamed for providing rotten food to the refugee, the organization said has conducted a comprehensive review earlier this year. “ The review concluded that the existing mode of food provision is considered appropriate.
To deal with the present problems encountered by refugees, Legislator Fernando Cheung previously suggested that the government can consider to provide temporary working permit to refugees or arrange school-aged children education, in order to secure refugees’ basic needs.
