Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Interpreter rights

Legal area

Court

4 May 2026

JOYEL RAJAN v. DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION

Citation

[2026] HKCFI 2471
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCAL1571/2025

Although the delay in seeking to file the Notice of Appeal was excused, the intended appeal lacked any real or reasonably arguable merit on multiple grounds (lawful basis for the Deportation Order, no breach of Article 37, no irrationality or disproportionality, no clear procedural unfairness regarding interpreter); therefore there was no purpose in granting an extension of time and the application was dismissed.
29 Oct 2021

HKSAR v. TOE ELI

Citation

[2021] HKCA 1588
Court

Court of Appeal
Case number

CACC120/2020

Leave to appeal was refused because the judge, having viewed the video‑recorded interview, reasonably found the applicant had a good command of English and was not coached; that finding justified admitting the post‑recorded statement and interview and meant there was no demonstrated breach of BOR 11(2)(a) or BOR 22, no material unfairness, and no error in the judge's credibility assessments or application of Browne v Dunn.
22 Feb 2019

HKSAR v. ALI HAIDAR

Citation

[2022] HKCFI 284
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCCC2/2018

The judge found on credibility that the defendant understood simple English, was properly informed of rights including right to interpreter, there was no assault or coaching by police, and no Hindi interpreter was available; therefore the VRI admissions were voluntary and the court declined to exercise its residual discretion to exclude the evidence.
13 Feb 1996

ALAMA TAMEE v. LEE YUET NGOR

Citation

ALAMA TAMEE v. LEE YUET NGOR
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCLA88/1995

The Presiding Officer's failure to consider non est factum in respect of a Chinese document signed by a non‑Chinese‑speaking appellant and the failure to provide a proper Liso interpreter were errors of law that vitiated the Tribunal's decision and required that the matter be remitted for a fresh hearing before a different Presiding Officer.

Hong Kong Case Law

JOYEL RAJAN v. DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION

HKSAR v. TOE ELI

HKSAR v. ALI HAIDAR

ALAMA TAMEE v. LEE YUET NGOR