15 March 2023
Adam Irish
[FYI request #21834 email]
DOIA 2223-1776
Tēnā koe Adam
Thank you for your email of 15 February 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing information:
“I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act regarding the number
of citizens from the People's Republic of China who have been granted residency under the
refugee category for the fol owing reasons:
-Uyghur Muslims or internment camp detainees -Tibetan dissidents who are Buddhist or pro-
independence -Practitioners of Falun Gong -Pro-democracy Hong Kong citizens -Chinese
Christians -Political dissidents
If you could please provide the total number each year for the last 4 years it would be greatly
appreciated.”
Our Response
Please refer to the table below for the total number of Chinese nationals who have been granted refugee
status under the listed refugee categories each year since 2019.
Refugee Category
Year
2019
2020
2021
2022
Christian
18
8
<=5
6
Falun Gong
23
12
22
<=5
N/A*
<=5
<=5
<=5
<=5
Political dissident
<=5
<=5
<=5
10
Uyghur
<=5
<=5
<=5
Hong Kong Citizen Pro-democracy
<=5
Totals
50
25
33
25
Please note that figures of five or less have been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of natural persons. Where information has been withheld, I do not consider that the public
interest outweighs my decision to withhold the information in each respect
I hope you find this information useful. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
1
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]
Nāku iti nei, nā
Andrew Lockhart
Acting General Manager – Refugee and Migrant Services
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
2
Document Outline
