Immigration Department carries out in-flight escort repatriation operation repatriating six unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants to their place of origin (with photo)

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The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out an in-flight escort repatriation operation codenamed "Expel" yesterday (November 6), deploying officers to repatriate six unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants to Pakistan successfully. The persons removed were all male illegal immigrants. Among them were discharged prisoners who had committed criminal offences and had been sentenced to imprisonment. Since the persons had repeatedly refused to accept repatriation arrangements and vigorously resisted in previous repatriation operations, the ImmD resorted to use an in-flight escort to effect the forced repatriation.

An ImmD spokesman said, "The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. As there are currently no direct flights between Hong Kong and Pakistan, repatriating Pakistani claimants need to transit through a connecting airport to Pakistan. To enhance removal efforts, the ImmD, for the first time, arranged a special chartered flight from Hong Kong to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, then interchanged a commercial flight to Pakistan to effect the in-flight escort repatriation operation. The ImmD successfully carried out the forced repatriation to remove six unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants to their home country in a single operation, and handed them over to the relevant government authorities. This has significantly enhanced the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the repatriation process."

Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.

The ImmD will continue to explore different feasible solutions to expedite the repatriation of unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants, and will actively co-ordinate with relevant authorities to optimise repatriation routes. The ImmD will actively maintain close liaison with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.

Ends/Friday, November 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:34

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The Immigration Department (ImmD) carried out an in-flight escort repatriation operation codenamed "Expel" yesterday (November 6). A total of six Pakistani unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants were repatriated to Pakistan. Photo shows removees being escorted by ImmD officers to depart from Hong Kong.