Justice Centre Hong Kong

Justice Centre Hong Kong
Name	Justice Centre Hong Kong
Type	Non-governmental organization
Founded	2014
Location	Hong Kong
Focus	Human rights, refugee protection, asylum law

Justice Centre Hong Kong

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit legal and policy organisation based in Hong Kong that provides representation, research, and advocacy for refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking. Operating within the context of Hong Kong's immigration framework and international instruments, the organisation engages with legal institutions, human rights bodies, and civil society to influence policy and provide direct services.

History

Justice Centre Hong Kong was established in 2014 following strategic litigation and advocacy efforts influenced by precedents from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Refugee Council (United Kingdom), and International Refugee Assistance Project. Early milestones involved litigation before local courts including the Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong) and the High Court of Hong Kong, and engagement with regional bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The organisation’s development reflects interactions with international instruments like the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Convention against Torture, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, while responding to local legislation such as the Immigration Ordinance (Hong Kong) and administrative processes involving the Immigration Department (Hong Kong) and the Department of Justice (Hong Kong). Prominent figures and allied organisations in its formation included litigators associated with the Law Society of Hong Kong, advocates from Hong Kong Bar Association, and NGOs such as Christian Action (Hong Kong), Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre, and Asian Human Rights Commission.

Mission and Activities

The centre’s mission frames strategic litigation, policy research, and direct legal assistance alongside public education and capacity building. Activities have included casework before the Court of First Instance of Hong Kong, submissions to the UN Committee against Torture, reports shared with Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and partnership programmes with UNHCR Regional Representation for the People’s Republic of China. The organisation collaborates with local civil society like Migrant Workers' Centre (Hong Kong), Kowloon West Community Centre, and international NGOs including International Detention Coalition, Global Detention Project, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and Jesuit Refugee Service. Training initiatives have connected to academic institutions such as University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and law clinics like HKU Faculty of Law and CUHK Faculty of Law. Media outreach has appeared in outlets including South China Morning Post, The Guardian, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Legal and Policy Advocacy

Justice Centre Hong Kong conducts strategic litigation, policy submissions, and legislative advocacy to reform asylum procedures, trafficking protections, and detention practices. Cases have engaged legal doctrines from precedents set by the UK Supreme Court, European Court of Human Rights, and decisions referenced from the High Court of Hong Kong and Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong). Policy work targets frameworks influenced by the United Nations Treaty Bodies, regional mechanisms like the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, and bilateral dialogues involving the British Consulate-General, Hong Kong, European Union Delegation to Hong Kong, and the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong. The centre produces submissions to committees including the Universal Periodic Review, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and the Human Rights Committee, and engages lawmakers within the Legislative Council (Hong Kong) and legal reform reviews led by the Department of Justice (Hong Kong).

Services for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Direct services offered include legal representation at hearings with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) where applicable, assistance with claims under the Refugee Convention, and support for victims of trafficking pursuant to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The centre assists clients from diverse origins including communities associated with Rohingya crisis, Syrian civil war, Afghan conflict, South Sudanese Civil War, and individuals impacted by regional issues in Mainland China and Myanmar. Support services span legal aid referrals tied to the Legal Aid Department (Hong Kong), psychosocial assistance in collaboration with NGOs such as Save the Children, World Vision, Médecins Sans Frontières, and social welfare engagement with the Social Welfare Department (Hong Kong). The organisation also liaises with faith-based partners like Caritas Hong Kong, St. James' Settlement, and advocacy coalitions including Hong Kong Unison.

Research and Publications

The centre publishes reports, fact sheets, and policy briefs analyzing asylum determination, detention, human trafficking, and vulnerability assessments. Publications reference methodologies aligned with standards from UNHCR Guidelines, the International Organization for Migration, and academic research from institutions like Oxford University, Cambridge University, Harvard University, Columbia University, and regional centres such as Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. Research outputs inform submissions to bodies including the UN Committee against Torture and the Universal Periodic Review, and are cited by journalists at Reuters, Financial Times, and researchers at think tanks like Chatham House, Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, and Asia Society.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources include philanthropic foundations, trusts, and institutional donors such as Open Society Foundations, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Oak Foundation, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and programme grants from multilateral institutions including UNHCR and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. Governance is overseen by a board comprising legal and human rights professionals with affiliations to organisations such as the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Bar Association, International Bar Association, International Commission of Jurists, and academic appointments at University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong. Operational partnerships and audits have been conducted with accounting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, and Deloitte where relevant, and the organisation participates in networks including the Refugee Legal Support Network and Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network.

Category:Human rights organizations based in Hong Kong