A Global Crisis

THE FACTS

2018 was one of the worst years on record for forced displacement.

Words Rafelle Allego | Graphics Inês de Campos Alves

70.8 MILLION forcibly displaced people worldwide

- 41.4 million internally displaced people

- 25.9 million refugees

- 3.5 million asylum seekers

Source: UNHCR

WHY SEEK ASYLUM?

These are the most common reasons people seek safety abroad.

1. PERSECUTION - religious, racial, political, national, social

2. WAR

3. GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION

4. HUNGER

5. CLIMATE CHANGE

Source: Global Citizen

WHERE DO ASYLUM SEEKERS COME FROM?

In 2018, most asylum seekers originated from these 10 countries.

Origin of asylum applications

Venezuela 340,712

Afghanistan 107,478

Syria 106,092

Iraq 72,543

Democratic Republic of the Congo 60,909

Eritrea 41,530

Nigeria 38,806

Pakistan 35,967

Iran 35,651

Sudan 32,272

Source: Worlddata.info

Destination and applications received

Peru 192,444

Germany 161,867

France 114,507

United States 96,495

Turkey 83,777

Brazil 79,909

Greece 66,852

Spain 55,609

Canada 55,270

Italy 48,391

Source: Worlddata.info

COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

In Hong Kong, the majority of asylum seekers came from these countries as of 2016.

Somalia 24.55%

Sri Lanka 22.73%

Rwanda 17.27%

Pakistan 9.09%

Uganda 4.55%

Source: UNHCR

DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN

50% of the world’s refugees are women and girls

20% of female refugees or displaced women have experienced sexual violence in a humanitarian setting

Source: UN Women

HONG KONG’S STATUS

Hong Kong does not offer residency to asylum seekers. However, it follows the UN Convention Against Torture and cannot send a refugee back to a country where their life or freedom are threatened.

Here’s an overview of the current situation, according to 2018 statistics:

14,000 Protection claims in Hong Kong

8,000 Awaiting assessment by the Immigration Department

800 Waiting to be removed due to a denied claim

120 Substantiated claims from 2009 to March 2018

0.6% Acceptance rate for asylum seekers

Source: Branches of Hope

ASYLUM STIPENDS

The International Social Service Hong Kong Branch provides monthly assistance to asylum seekers while they wait for claims to be reviewed.

HK$1,200 Food vouchers

HK$300 Utilities

HK$200-420 Transportation allowance

HK$750 Housing allowance per child

HK$1,500 Housing allowance per adult

HK$3,885 One-time grant for children's education costs

Sources: Branches of Hope, Student Finance Office

WAVES IN HONG KONG

Hong Kong’s population exploded from 1945 to 1980 as more than a million people fled wars in mainland China and Vietnam.

1949 - Mainland Chinese residents flee civil war and communist revolution

1955 - Vietnam War begins

1956-1980 - An estimated 606,000 people from China seek refuge in Hong Kong

1970s - More than 200,000 refugees arrive by boat

1970-1980 - Another 332,000 people flee China

1988 - Hong Kong establishes refugee screening system to curb Vietnamese refugees

2000 - About 1,400 are allowed to stay in the city permanently

2014-2018 - 9,137 asylum seekers deported from Vietnam

2018 - More than 14,000 people seek protection

ESCAPE ROUTE

The journey from mainland China to Hong Kong was dangerous and many refugees died in transit. The shortest, most popular escape route was to swim from Shenzhen’s Shekou area to Yuen Long in northwestern Hong Kong.

1949 Geneva Convention

A set of treaties and subsequent protocols negotiated after World War II in order to establish an international standard for humanitarian treatment in war time with an aim to protect people who do not take part in the fighting – civilians, medics, aid workers – and those who can no longer fight.

There are four Geneva Conventions, and the fourth affords protection to civilians, including those fleeing occupied territory. To date, the Geneva Conventions have been ratified by 196 countries.

CONVENTION REFUGEE

Someone who has been recognised to be a refugee, based on the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention – considered the international standard for determining refugee rights. The Convention defines a ‘refugee’ as any person who:

“…owing to well‐founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it…”

This definition does not apply to those who flee their home country due to civil disturbances, economic concerns, famine or natural disasters. According to the Convention, refugees flee due to the threat of persecution.

The Hong Kong government is not a signatory to the Convention and, therefore, does not offer residency to asylum seekers. If a protection claim is accepted, Hong Kong practices 'non-refoulement' and will resettle the asylum seeker in a country that's deemed safe.

NEED-TO-KNOW TERMS

Asylum - Protection or safety given by a government to people who have been displaced from their own country.

Asylum seeker - A person who requests international protection but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined.

Refugee - A person who is forced to flee from persecution outside of their home country.

Refoulement - The expulsion of persons who have the right to be recognised as refugees to territories where their life or freedom are threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, or membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

Non-refoulement - The practice of not deporting asylum seekers back to a country where they are at serious risk of persecution or torture.

In Hong Kong, non-refoulement claimants are permanently considered illegal immigrants, even if their claims are accepted by the government. Their children, even those born in Hong Kong, are also considered permanently illegal.

The immigration department may give some refugees permission to work on an individual basis, but in general, they do not have the right to work.

Resettlement - The transfer of refugees from one country to another, where they can live, work and ultimately seek naturalisation.

Naturalisation - When a migrant becomes a citizen of another country. In Hong Kong and Macao, this would mean applying to become a Chinese national. In addition to a long and complicated application process, applicants cannot retain their foreign nationality.

Internally displaced person (IDP) - A person who flees their home but seeks safety within their own country.

Stateless person - A person who does not have a nationality. Some people are born stateless, while others become stateless due to gaps in nationality laws, emergence of new states or changes in borders.

Migrant - Any person who moves temporarily or permanently within the country of their birth or to another country for any reason – be it for seasonal work, family or climate change.

Environmental migrant - Also known as a climate migrant, these are people displaced from their homes due to famine, natural disasters, or changes from drought, desertification and rising sea levels. This type of refugee is not recognised by the Convention.

Economic migrant - A person who voluntarily leaves a country to seek a better life elsewhere. This is not a type of refugee recognised by the Convention.

Immigrant - Someone who has moved to a country other than their birthplace with the intention of permanent residence.

Xenophobia - The extreme dislike or fear of foreigners, including their culture, customs, and religions. Often, xenophobia is driven by a perceived threat to the cultural or racial homogeneity of a certain area.

ARIANA 2019