Hong Kong’s Immigration Department (ImmD) confirmed on 17 July that it has repatriated six Pakistani nationals whose non-refoulement claims were rejected and who had physically resisted previous removal attempts. Codenamed Operation “Expel”, the mission involved chartering a flight from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, where the deportees were transferred onto a commercial service to Islamabad under heavy escort. The lack of direct flights to Pakistan has long complicated forced returns, with escorts traditionally enduring multi-stop journeys that heighten security risks. By piggy-backing on Guangzhou’s wider South Asian network, ImmD completed the removals in half the usual transit time and reduced costs associated with overnight layovers. Authorities say the tactics build on stricter removal rules introduced in December 2022, which empower officers to proceed once all judicial reviews are exhausted. Since then, Hong Kong has run similar charters in November 2025 and March 2026, signalling a tougher stance on overstayers and illegal workers. Corporate relocation specialists should note the trend: employees whose dependant or employment visas lapse face accelerated deportation if appeals fail. Community groups have raised concerns about transparency and detainees’ access to legal counsel, but the SAR Government argues that efficient removals free up detention-centre space and deter fraudulent asylum claims that clog the Unified Screening Mechanism. Practical tip: Employers must monitor visa expiry dates for foreign staff and helpers; under the updated enforcement policy, overstaying by more than 14 days can trigger detention while removal arrangements are made.
Source: The Standard (Hong Kong)
