Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Paragraph: 97
Establish dedicated casework team for Hong Kong asylum applications and update country policy note within eight weeks.
Recommendation
The UK has a proud record of providing asylum to individuals who need it, from many parts of the world. A failure to provide effective and timely consideration to asylum seekers from Hong Kong would damage this record, as well as undermining the unique commitment made by the UK to the citizens of Hong Kong. We have already in this report recommended that the Government establish a dedicated casework team to examine Hong Kong BN(O) visa applications; the Government should similarly establish a dedicated casework team to examine asylum applications from Hong Kong. In addition, the Government should report back to us with an updated country policy note for Hong Kong within eight weeks. The Home Office must also provide assurances concerning the frequency with which its country policy information notes are reviewed and in particular must confirm what measures are in place both to ensure that CPINs relating to Hong Kong are updated in response to developments, and to ensure that such changes are communicated quickly and effectively to frontline caseworkers.
Government Response Summary
The government discusses the setting of visa, immigration, and citizenship fees, which is unrelated to the recommendation for a dedicated asylum casework team for Hong Kong and updated country policy notes.
Paragraph Reference:
97
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
16. As you have mentioned in the report, the Home Office sets visa, immigration and citizenship fees at a level which helps provide resources necessary to operate the Border, Immigration and Citizenship System and reduce reliance on taxpayer funding.