Chinese fugitive is denied asylum

By Ian Gunn
BBC News, Vancouver

Mr Lai's lawyers say they will pursue his case

A man described by the Chinese government as its most wanted fugitive has failed in an attempt to secure refugee status in Canada.

Lai Changxing had asked a federal court to overturn a lower ruling that said he was not a genuine political refugee and should be returned to China.

Mr Lai has argued he faces execution in China if Canada deports him.

China says Lai Changxing was behind a multi-billion dollar smuggling operation in the 1990s.

For five years now, it has been trying to have him returned from Canada to face justice.

Setbacks

But since his arrest here in the 2000, Mr Lai has been fighting to stay in Canada as a refugee.

He has had little luck so far, and this latest ruling is another setback.

Canada's Federal Court of Appeal has now decided there is nothing wrong with a lower court ruling last year that described Mr Lai as a fugitive from justice, and not a genuine refugee.

This is, however, unlikely to be the last word on the matter.

Mr Lai's lawyer has previously said he will continue the legal fight to the Supreme Court of Canada, if necessary.

And even if the top court declines to hear the case, immigration officials must still conduct at least one more review before they can deport China's most wanted man.