Department in 2024 are approximately 15,000 refugees and aslym seekers in Hong Kong, with many from Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries.

They barely survive on a stipend of $3,500 per month and suffer severe economic hardship, social isolation and disempowerment due to restrictions on their rights to work and the minimal support available.  In Hong Kong, each refugee is given HK$1,200 per month for food in the form of supermarket vouchers – that’s $40 a day.  

Our Emergency Welfare Fund allows us to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies that cannot be solved through NGOs or other means, providing short-term relief for accommodation, medical needs, food, and other basic essentials.

Can’t wait to join us in this journey of making a difference? Sign up to participate in the $40 Challenge.

We’ll be joining two panel discussions:
3 October at 1:30pm – Supporting Young People Through Pro Bono
4 October at 1:45pm – Advancing Equitable Partnerships in Pro Bono 

One of Justice Centre’s clients, a woman from Madagascar, was recently granted protection on appeal by the Torture Claims Appeal Board (TCAB)—a decision that highlights the growing importance of recognising intimate partner violence as a legitimate ground for non-refoulement protection in Hong Kong.

Detention is one of the most isolating and opaque parts of Hong Kong’s immigration system. For those detained—often in remote facilities and with limited access to legal support—the stakes are high and the pathways unclear. That’s why we’ve broadened the scope of our work to reach and support this particularly vulnerable group more effectively. 

When people understand their rights, they’re better able to make informed decisions and seek the protection they’re entitled to. For many in displaced communities, the first point of contact for information and support is not a lawyer or NGO—but a trusted peer. That’s why a community-based approach matters.

Refugees are often the subjects of legal processes—but rarely the co-creators of the systems designed to support them. Justice Centre’s latest initiative aims to change that. Through a participatory process, we’re developing professional guidelines shaped by the voices of those with lived experience. 

For refugees who are barred from working and receive only HKD 1,500 per month in housing assistance, housing options are especially limited. Subdivided units, while far from ideal, are often the only available option. Recently, a representative of Humanity Seekers—a refugee-led community group supported by Justice Centre—attended a meeting with a legislator to share their perspectives on the proposed Subdivided Unit Bill. 

How do we create more effective legal solutions for the hundreds of millions of people who have been forcibly displaced around the world?

In recent months, two major resettlement pathways for refugees in Hong Kong have been abruptly closed—leaving many in limbo and directly affecting several Justice Centre’s clients.

Across jurisdictions, there’s growing recognition that family violence can amount to persecution. Yet in Hong Kong, this area of non-refoulement law remains complex, underdeveloped, and too often misunderstood. As a form of persecution, it can trigger international protection obligations under the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM).

What does it take to provide meaningful support to people navigating displacement in Hong Kong? At ASK, we believe it starts with building a professional community that is not only compassionate but equipped—with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to respond to complex needs.