【时代论坛讯】附属于香港基督教协进会的基督徒难民事工小组发出声明，对于行政长官梁振英表示有需要时考虑香港退出《禁止酷刑公约》，表示震惊和错愕。
声明以〈保护免受酷刑是绝对权利〉为题，强烈反对任何可能威胁寻求庇护者生命的行动，也担心退出公约会同时剥夺香港市民的人权。
对于特首在《施政报告》中宣布全面检讨处理免遣返声请的策略，声明担心这意味着收紧寻求庇护人士的处理方法。声明指出，终审法院曾明确指出禁止酷刑乃绝对权利，不能加以摧毁。
声明由小组召集人陆汉思牧师（Rev. Hans Lutz）以小组名义发出，中英双语，透过香港基督教协进会脸书专页发放。该小组是协进会社会公义及民生关注委员会的附属小组，于每次会议报告工作进度。
梁振英是在周三《施政报告》记者会上回应提问时表示，在处理难民引用《禁止酷刑公约》提出免遣返声请时，若有需要会考虑退出《公约》。周三发表的《施政报告》第252段提及，政府将全面检讨处理免遣返声请的策略，包括检讨《入境条例》，同时加快审核声请，打击严重的非法入境、逾期居留等问题。这是今年《施政报告》在治安方面唯一公布的具体措施。
作为来自不同教会及关注在港寻求庇謢者的基督徒群体，我们对于行政长官昨天的发言感到错愕。在其施政报告中，他宣布政府将全面检讨处理免遣返声请的策略，包括检讨《入境条例》。从过往经验可知，这只意味着会对寻求庇謢者的处理方法作进一步收紧而已。我们更为震惊的是，行政长官在记者会上回应时表示，如有需要时考虑香港退出《禁止酷刑公约》，响应了世界各地要求撒回人权条约此等倒退做法的声音。
由于《禁止酷刑公约》的保障範围广泛，退出公约也会同时剥夺香港市民的人权。
禁止酷刑是《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》及《基本法》第39条的一部份，而终审法院也曾明确指出禁止酷刑乃绝对权利，不能加以摧毁，所以没有人可以在其人身受到威胁时被迫遣返其国家。
作为基督徒，我们因着福音对弱势之异乡客的关爱和款待，关注寻求庇謢者的需要。所以，我们强烈反对任何可能威胁这些邻舍生命的行动。
基督徒难民事工小组
陆汉思
〈Protection against Torture is an Absolute Right〉
As a group of Christians from different churches caring for asylum seekers in Hong Kong we are dismayed by statements the Chief Executive has made. In his Policy Address he announced that Government will conduct a comprehensive review of the strategy of handling non-refoulement claims, including a review of the Immigration Ordinance. From past experience we know that this can only mean a further tightening of the way under which asylum seekers are treated. We were even more shocked by the Chief Executive’s answer in the press conference that the Hong Kong SAR might withdraw from the Convention against Torture. Thus C.Y. Leung has added his voice to that of those all over the world who advocate the rolling back of human rights instruments.
Since the scope of the Convention against Torture is wide, a withdrawal would also take away human rights of Hong Kong citizens.
The prohibition of torture is part of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and entrenched under article 39 of the Basic Law. The Court of Final Appeal has held that protection against torture is an absolute right and that no derogation is possible. Therefore no person can be returned to a country where he or she might face the danger of being tortured.
As Christians who care for asylum seekers we are guided by the gospel values of compassion and hospitality to vulnerable strangers. We strongly oppose any move which could threaten their lives.
Hans Lutz for
Christian Refugee Ministry
2016.01.14
（http://christiantimes.org.hk，时代论坛每日新闻，2016.01.14）
