Sunday Times 2
HK immigration red faced after Indians denied entry bolt into city
View(s):Immigration officers in Hong Kong have been left red faced this week after two young Indian males who were refused entry at one of the busiest rail stations in the Kowloon district bailed out of a train and bolted on foot. They have yet to be tracked down.
The Indians ran away along the rail track after leaping out of a train bound for China on which they were to be deported on Sunday. They had arrived at the Hung Hom rail station in Kowloon from China. Kowloon is home to hundreds of Indians and Indian ventures ranging from filthy guest houses and dining places to luxury hotels and trading companies owned by Indians.
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced on Monday the two Indians aged 27 and 35 years, were refused permission entry on Sunday. On that day more than 14,600 people passed through the immigration control point in Hung Hom, figures show.
The Indian visitors were refused entry because of doubts over their purpose of visit, the department explained.
This embarrassing episode came as Hong Kong wrestles with the headache of hundreds of Indians arriving in the city seeking asylum. Many are suspect asylum-seekers.
Hong Kong does not grant refugee status to asylum-seekers. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol do not apply to Hong Kong and those claiming non-refoulement are not treated as “refugees”.
Indians made up the biggest number of asylum claimants among South Asians last year at 2,093, according to immigration data. Last year 5,657 South Asian including Pakistanis and Bangladeshis sought asylum in Hong Kong.