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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question by the Hon Albert Chan in the Legislative Council today (November 4):
Question:
Recently, members of the public have relayed to me that quite a number of children and young people born on the Mainland, whose father or mother is a Hong Kong resident, have not been issued One-way Permits because they have no household registration on the Mainland. Although subsequent to their illegal entry into Hong Kong they have lived in Hong Kong for seven consecutive years and have also been allowed to receive education here, they are not granted the right of abode in Hong Kong, leaving them unsure of what to do. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the current number of the aforesaid children and young people in Hong Kong;
(b) of the reasons why the authorities refuse to issue Hong Kong identity cards to these children and young people; and
(c) whether the authorities will consider afresh issuing Hong Kong identity cards to these children and young people and granting them the right of abode in Hong Kong so that they can live normally and grow up healthily in Hong Kong; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) According to the records of the Immigration Department, there are 11 children or young people born on the Mainland, whose father or mother is a Hong Kong resident, and who claimed that they could not obtain One Way Permit (OWP) as they do not have Mainland household registration, and have stayed in Hong Kong for seven years or more after entering Hong Kong illegally and have been granted permission for schooling.
(b) According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance and prevailing policy, these persons had entered Hong Kong illegally and are not eligible to register for Hong Kong identity card.
(c) Mainland residents who wish to enter Hong Kong for legal settlement must apply for OWPs from the Mainland Public Security authorities. Those who do not have Mainland household registration should apply for one before submitting an OWP application. We understand that the Mainland authorities will consider the individual merits of household registration applications from such persons.
It is an offence to enter Hong Kong illegally or to overstay after entry. Mainland residents who remain in Hong Kong illegally should return to the Mainland as soon as possible and apply for settlement in Hong Kong through the proper channel.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:12
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