Seeking Refuge

Marchers demanding fairer treatment for refugees under UN convention accuse the government of psychological torture                                                                                 [...]

This website contains the words of asylum seekers in Hong Kong.  There are some 7000 recognized asylum seekers in Hong Kong; most are from South Asia or Africa. Asylum seekers, upon entry into Hong Kong, often turn to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which has an office in the city, to declare themselves [...]

seeking Refuge hk

 First of all I was born within a farming family. My education is up to a high school level. My professional jobs include a bulldozer operator, truck driver, excavator operator and a crane operator. But here in Hong Kong, the only thing I operate is a rice cooker. Morning, afternoon, evening, I’m doing nothing here, [...]

We were a group of people who were detained by immigration in the Victoria Prison. Our conditions were so horrible. It was worse than the other detainees. The conditions under which we found ourselves were terrible for many reasons. We were confined in a place with a security guard who monitored our ever movement. You [...]

 Communication. Every case officer, either from the immigration or the ISS always expects to be able to reach their client on the phone. The question is do they take time to find out how we are meant to get the money to put credit on our phones? How do we get our phones active? This [...]

There is no transparency   in the UNHCR in Hong Kong. Back in 2004, that was the worst year that I ever experienced in my life. When I came to Hong Kong  in 2004, I just escaped from  my country due to a tribal and political conflict which I  know that the government of my country [...]

I am concerned with the food services provided by the ISS. While the food that the ISS gives its clients, asylum seekers, is not horrible, it is not up to the standards that I expect. Because if you look at the market price of the food given to us, you can see it is different [...]

 For many months I was without rent assistance from the ISS(International Social Service). My Church and my friends helped me. Christian action also helped me with issues of accommodation. After two and a half years I began to receive assistance from the ISS. Now it is easier than before. However, my rent situation is still [...]