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"The Immigration Department has obtained an injunction from Court to prevent certain individuals, their servants and agents from staging protests within the area of the Immigration Tower so as to avoid causing inconvenience to the users of the Tower and members of the public," a spokesman of the Immigration Department said today (April 24).

"Some 300 and over 100 unsuccessful right of abode claimants, their family members and supporters pushed their way into the Immigration Tower on April 22 and yesterday afternoon respectively. On April 22, they caused disturbances on the ground floor of the Immigration Tower for more than 6 hours and brought about great inconvenience to users of various departments in the Immigration Tower, applicants and members of the public. In order to prevent them from causing further disturbances, Immigration Department has obtained an injunction order to prevent certain individuals, their servants and agents from staging any protest in the area of the Immigration Tower or obstructing the entrances of the Immigration Tower.

" We appeal to them to stay calm and obey the law. Any drastic actions taken will not help their cases. Unsuccessful right of abode claimants should return to the Mainland to apply to settle or visit relatives in Hong Kong in accordance with the established regulations and procedures, " the spokesman stressed.

Since the expiry of the "grace period" at the end of last month until today (April 24), over 100 right of abode claimants had been removed or voluntarily returned to the Mainland.

End/Wednesday, 24 April, 2002

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