Justice Centre Hong Kong

What Justice Centre Hong Kong does

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a registered charity (IR91/9790) founded in 2007 as the Hong Kong SAR Refugee Advice Centre and rebranded under its current name in 2014. It is headquartered at 2/F, South Asia Building, 108 Waterloo Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, and operates with a staff of 11-50. The organization provides free legal, welfare, and psychosocial support to refugees, asylum seekers, and forced migrants in Hong Kong SAR, targeting underserved cohorts including victims of torture, trafficking survivors, women and children, LGBTIQA+ persons, and stateless individuals. Services are delivered through direct legal representation, welfare assistance, psychotherapy, and self-help resources, with pro bono support from major international law firms.

The organization's product surface includes the HK Asylum Guide mobile app (launched in 2020 with Freshfields), an Immigration Detention Case Law Database, and a regularly updated suite of Self-Help Toolkits (most recently refreshed in November 2025). Internal operations are run on Clio, a cloud-based legal case management platform. Programming extends beyond direct services to the Community Leadership Academy, which trains refugee advocates, and the Paralegals for Protection programme, which builds a paralegal pipeline. Justice Centre operates a subsidiary, Humanity Seekers, a refugee-led community organization, and runs the Youth Festival programme, including the Mentally Aware Social Cause (YASC) initiative priced at HK$60,000 per student across three sessions, and a Mock Trial programme at HK$10,000 per student.

The business model is donation-driven: the organization does not receive government funding and supplements contributions with fee-based educational programming and a merchandise / online-shop channel. A new US tax-deductible donation channel has been activated through Friends of Hong Kong Charities, expanding the donor geography. Collaborative research ties with the University of Cambridge, QUT, CUHK, and HKU reinforce the organization's policy and evidence base.

Name

Justice Centre Hong Kong

Legal name

Justice Centre Hong Kong Limited

Website

https://justicecentre.org.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a registered charity founded in 2007 that provides free legal, welfare, and psychosocial support to refugees, asylum seekers, and forced migrants in Hong Kong SAR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Legal Aid

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

Keywords

• Refugee legal aid
• Asylum seeker support
• Humanitarian legal services
• Forced migrant protection
• Refugee welfare assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Yau Tsim Mong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Justice Centre Hong Kong operates as a registered charity (IR91/9790) and non-governmental organization that relies entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and private foundations. They conduct regular fundraising campaigns including the $40 Challenge and receive no government funding. Revenue comes through online donations, bank transfers, cheque payments, PayPal, credit card donations, and FPS transfers.
2. Programme Fees: Revenue is generated through educational programme fees including the Young Advocates Summer Camp ($60,000 HKD per student) and Mock Trial programme ($10,000 HKD per student). These fees support programme delivery and contribute to services for refugees.
3. US Tax-Deductible Donations: US tax-deductible donations are processed through Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc., a registered tax-exempt organization in both the United States and Hong Kong that provides Hong Kong and United States tax-deductible receipts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Justice Centre Hong Kong provides free legal representation, social welfare assistance, and psychosocial counselling to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants in Hong Kong SAR, helping them access protection under Hong Kong's non-refoulement law and navigate the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM). The organisation also operates paid educational programmes for students, refugee-led community empowerment initiatives, and a set of digital and printed resources (the HK Asylum Guide app, immigration detention case law database, and self-help toolkits) developed with pro bono legal partners.

Product overview

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit organization that provides legal and social services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants in Hong Kong SAR. Its primary product is the HK Asylum Guide, a mobile app and website developed in partnership with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer that guides users through the Unified Screening Mechanism (USM) asylum process. The organization also offers community empowerment programmes including the Community Leadership Academy and Paralegals for Protection, educational programmes such as the Young Advocates Summer Camp and Mock Trial, research resources including Immigration Detention Self-Help Toolkits and a Case Law Database, and fundraising initiatives like the $40 Challenge. These products and services work together to provide holistic support encompassing legal assistance, social welfare, counselling, and community empowerment for displaced populations in Hong Kong.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HK Asylum Guide Mobile App and Website A mobile application and website that guides asylum seekers through Hong Kong's Unified Screening Mechanism (USM), helping users understand the process, decide whether to apply or appeal, prepare applications and appeals, and locate relevant contacts and services. Available free via Apple App Store, Google Play, and web.
• Young Advocates Summer Camp (YASC) A two-week paid summer programme for high school students providing exposure to law, courtroom practice, and the non-profit sector, with a focus on issues impacting refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong. Fee is HK$60,000 per student with a 5% early-bird discount.
• Young Advocates Mock Trial A three-day immersive paid programme equipping high school students (Form 4/Grade 10/Year 11 or above) with the knowledge and skills to compete in a courtroom setting based on real-life asylum cases. Fee is HK$10,000 per student with a 5% early-bird discount.
• Community Leadership Academy A refugee-led community programme that equips refugees with leadership and organisational skills, co-designed and co-delivered with refugee facilitators, to enable positive social impact within their communities in Hong Kong.
• Paralegals for Protection A pilot programme that trains refugee women as community-based paralegals, providing legal knowledge and tools to support other members of their community on immigration detention matters in Hong Kong.
• Immigration Detention Self-Help Toolkits A set of self-help toolkits developed with input from the refugee community, providing information and scenario-based guidance for asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong who may be affected by immigration detention.
• Immigration Detention Case Law Database A publicly accessible online database containing summaries of case law from Hong Kong Courts relating to immigration detention, including core detention cases and other relevant cases, with summaries prepared with pro bono support from Morrison Foerster.
• Refugee Legal and Welfare Assistance Services Free and independent legal and social welfare assistance delivered to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants in Hong Kong SAR, encompassing protection-claim representation under Hong Kong non-refoulement law, screening and prioritisation of vulnerable cases, access to social welfare (food, shelter, healthcare, education), and free professional counselling to address trauma.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% appeal case success rate with pro bono partners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed the HK Asylum Guide mobile application and website with Justice Centre. Freshfields contributed legal expertise and resources to create a comprehensive guide helping asylum seekers navigate Hong Kong's Unified Screening Mechanism process.
• Morrison FoerstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided pro bono support to develop and launch the Immigration Detention Case Law Database. Morrison Foerster contributed legal professionals to prepare case summaries and build this resource for practitioners and community advocates.
• Kirkland & Ellis LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading international law firm providing pro bono legal support to Justice Centre clients. Associates from the firm work directly with refugee clients to provide free legal services and representation in asylum proceedings.
• KWM (King & Wood Mallesons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international law firm partner providing pro bono legal services to Justice Centre. Lawyers contribute time and expertise to support refugee clients and organizational initiatives.
• Pro Bono Law Firm PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustice Centre partners with leading law firms in Hong Kong SAR which provide invaluable pro bono support and resources. These partnerships enable delivery of legal services to refugees and asylum seekers who would otherwise be unrepresented.
• Chinese University of Hong Kong SARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for clinical legal education programmes. Law students receive training on international and domestic refugee law and gain practical experience through placements with Justice Centre.
• University of Hong Kong SARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing clinical legal education opportunities for law students. Programme adapted in 2020 to offer remote placements for ongoing engagement.
• University of CambridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partner for clinical legal education programmes. Students gain exposure to refugee law and practice through structured placements.
• Queensland University of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner delivering clinical legal education programmes. Students develop essential professional skills while contributing to Justice Centre's work.
• Humanity SeekerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee-led community platform supported by Justice Centre. Founded and led by refugees and asylum seekers, the organization drives positive social impact for the community. Partners include Core Group of refugees and asylum seekers working on initiatives like Paralegals for Protection and Community Leadership Academy.
• Medical Practitioners and Private Medical PracticesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with medical practitioners to fill the social welfare gap and provide healthcare services to refugees. Includes connections to Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital for specialized medical care.
• International Social Service Hong Kong BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ISS Hong Kong for welfare support coordination and collaboration on refugee welfare services.
• Duty Lawyer ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral pathway for clients requiring legal representation. Justice Centre works with duty lawyers who provide initial legal assistance to protection claimants at first instance.
• Legal Aid DepartmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment partner for legal aid proceedings. Justice Centre provides technical assistance in legal aid cases and related procedures within Hong Kong SAR's legal system.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Refugee Action: Refugee Action is a UK charity providing advice, advocacy, and integration support for refugees and asylum seekers. Direct peer in mission and operating model: free legal/social services to asylum seekers in a single host country, donation-funded, with similar client demographics.
• Refugee Council: The Refugee Council is a UK charity providing legal representation, advocacy, and support services to asylum seekers and refugees. Direct peer: both organizations focus on free legal aid for protection claims and broader welfare support within a single host country context.
• HIAS: HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit providing refugee resettlement and legal aid services for asylum seekers. It is a direct peer: both organizations deliver pro-bono-driven legal representation and social welfare support to forcibly displaced populations, with similar reliance on law firm partnerships.
• Refuge: Refuge is a UK charity providing specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic violence, including advice on asylum and refugee status. Comparable to Justice Centre in combining free legal services with psychosocial support and operating as a registered charity dependent on donations.

Emerging players

• Asylum Access: Asylum Access is a nonprofit providing legal aid and community-based advocacy for refugees in multiple countries. Emerging peer with similar community-empowerment model (refugee-led paralegals) and free legal aid focus, though operating in different host countries than Hong Kong.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch conducts investigations and advocacy on refugee and asylum-seeker rights globally. It is a broad incumbent in the same human-rights advocacy space as Justice Centre, though focused on monitoring and reporting rather than direct legal representation.
• Amnesty International: Amnesty International operates globally to defend human rights, including advocating for refugee rights and providing legal resources. Comparable as a broad advocacy incumbent whose policy work and reports on Hong Kong's refugee framework complement Justice Centre's direct service delivery.
• UNHCR: UNHCR is the UN agency mandated to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. Although a public-sector body rather than an NGO, it is the dominant player setting standards and operating in Hong Kong's refugee space, making it the closest systemic peer for Justice Centre's mandate.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC is a major international humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, resettlement support, and legal aid to refugees globally. It is a broad incumbent operating at far larger scale than Justice Centre but delivering overlapping legal assistance, social welfare, and community empowerment services to displaced populations.

Regional players

• International Social Service Hong Kong: ISS Hong Kong provides social welfare and family services to migrants and refugees in Hong Kong SAR, and is an actual partner of Justice Centre for welfare coordination. It is a regional peer delivering complementary social services to the same displaced population Justice Centre serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/justicecentrehk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyKfwIcg4wFHcD5wc9iOxfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/JusticeCentreHongKong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/justicecentrehongkong
• Instagraminstagram.com/justicecentrehk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Justice Centre Hong Kong