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Recognisance has not been granted to Mainland Two-way permit (TWP) overstayers who reported back to the Immigration Department today (Tuesday), a government spokesman confirmed in response to media enquiries.

"Instead we urge each and every overstayer to return to the Mainland voluntarily," he said, noting that counselling has been provided by the Immigration Department to this effect.

Those TWP overstayers who are without a Certificate of Entitlement claimed that they have the right of abode (ROA) in Hong Kong under Basic Law Article 24 (3). They have applied to the Department for release on recognisance at the end of last month. They were registered by the Immigration Department for considering their requests for recognisance.

The first batch of these ROA claimants were told that the Director of Immigration had carefully considered their applications and had decided not to grant recognisance.

"The applicants are overstayers. Bona fide visitors to Hong Kong are always welcomed but they should leave on expiry of their limit of stay," the spokesman stressed.

Appointment cards were issued today for these overstayers to call on the Immigration Department again after three weeks.

"Within this period we hope they would come to the right decision and leave Hong Kong," the spokesman said, adding that more than 200 overstayers have left voluntarily since the delivery of the Court of Final Appeal's judgement on January 29.

End/Tuesday, March 9, 1999

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