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【有關一名香港反送中示威者於德國成功取得政治庇護之聲明】
一名因被警方以暴動罪拘捕而流亡德國之中大女學生，於本年十月十四日收到德國聯邦移民與難民局通知，其庇護申請正式獲批，並取得為期三年的難民身份。這是自反送中運動爆發後，第一宗香港年青示威者於德國成功申請政治庇護的案件。
避風驛就德國政府此決定表示感激。德國政府並非首次批出庇護予香港人。於二零一八年五月，德國政府亦批出庇護予兩名香港抗爭者-本土民主前線創辦人暨避風驛共同發起人黃台仰及前本土民主前線成員李東昇。德國乃首個歐洲國家向香港公民批出庇護。
避風驛在感激德國政府對香港示威者予以人道援助的同時，亦促請德國政府以及歐盟國家致力完善其難民機制，並考慮制定全面的救生艇政策。
該22歲中大女生向避風驛透露，在其等待的過程中，面對過不少難關，例如在難民營的生活、因情緒問題而需要入院、以及被難民營職員性侵的經歷。居住在難民營近十一個月的她表示：「我很感謝德國政府對我批出庇護。在整個申請過程中，德國政府提供了大部分生活上的基本需要，如衣食住行及基本醫療服務。」但她亦指出「若然德國政府能考慮簡化香港難民申請者的程序，以及容許申請者在等待過程中自由選擇居住地點，這將會是對香港抗爭者的支持。」
香港監察高級政策顧問Sam Goodman亦表示：「我們歡迎德國政府向該女生提供庇護的決定。這表明德國政府致力于保護人權，並認為在港區國安法生效後，許多香港青年若留在香港，將面臨政治迫害，任意逮捕和監禁。」
他繼續：「然而，這位女生在難民營的經歷反映現在是改革難民政策的時侯。在七月時，德國聯同其他歐盟國家同意提出建議，作為國際救生艇政策的一部分，讓香港青年在歐盟國家更容易留下讀書及工作。將近三個月後，我們認為現在是德國政府履行承諾的時候。」
Goodman建議德國政府「透過改革其庇護政策來提供特別方案予有機會面臨政治迫害的香港人申請庇護、延長工作假期簽證、或考慮通過擴大Erasmus Program予香港學生來制定適用於全歐盟的救生艇政策。」他總結指，「德國應與志同道合的國際伙伴聯手，確保每一個香港人在面對進一步打壓時，都有可行政策保護他們。」
避風驛
二零二零年十月十九日
【Haven Assistance’s statement on the German government’s decision to grant a Hong Kong protester asylum status】
On October 14, 2020, a 22-year-old student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), who fled Hong Kong last November, was granted refugee status for three years by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF). This is the first instance of a protestor receiving asylum in Germany following activities in the anti-extradition law movement.
Haven Assistance would like to express our gratitude to the German Government for this decision. This is not the first time that the German Government has granted asylum to Hong Kong citizens. In May 2018, the German government granted asylum to two Hong Kong activists -- Ray Wong Toi-Yeung, the founder of Hong Kong Indigenous (HKI) and co-founder of Haven Assistance, and Alan Li Tung-Sing, a former member of HKI. Germany was the first European country to grant asylum to Hong Kong citizens.
However, while Haven Assistance welcomes the German Government’s decision to grant asylum to the Hong Kong protester, we also urge Germany and other European countries to continue to improve their asylum processes and consider enacting a comprehensive lifeboat policy for Hong Kongers.
The student protester told Haven Assistance that she had faced many hardships during her application process, such as living in refugee camps for nearly 11 months, being hospitalised due to emotional issues, and being sexually assaulted by a refugee camp staff. “I am grateful to the German government for granting me asylum. The German government has provided me with basic necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation and basic medical services,” she said when sharing her life in refugee camps. “However, if the German government could consider simplifying the asylum application process for Hong Kong protesters, such as allowing them to choose freely their place of residence while waiting for the decision,” she also suggested, “it would be of great convenience and support to them.”
Sam Goodman, Senior Policy Advisor at Hong Kong Watch, said:
“We welcome the German Government’s decision to grant asylum to the female protester. It demonstrates the German Government’s commitment to stand up for human rights and its recognition that under the National Security Law many Hong Kongers face political persecution, arbitrary arrest and detention if they stay in the city.”
Goodman continued: “However, the young woman’s experiences in the refugee camp shows that it is time for reform. In July, Germany along with the other EU Member States agreed to bring in proposals to make it easier for young Hong Kongers to work and study in Europe as part of an international lifeboat policy. Nearly three months later, we believe it is time for the German Government to act on its promise.”
He also suggested that the German government could “reform its asylum policy by designating a specific pathway for Hong Kongers at risk of political persecution, expanding its Working Holiday Visa, and considering the case for an EU-wide lifeboat policy through expanding the Erasmus scheme for Hong Kongers.” Germany should, he concluded, “join like-minded international partners in ensuring that Hongkongers has a viable insurance policy in the face of a further crackdown on their rights.”
Haven Assistance
19 October 2020
