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CCSC Student who made HK News Headlines
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| [ From Ming Pao News (Internet Edition) July 25, 2001 ] |
Thanks to Ho Wing Sze Jackson and Kam Wing Chi Bismarck, and Mr C K Siu for bringing the case to overseas alumni's attention, and sending update quotes from newspapers as the story unfolds. Otherwise, we may not know it is happening at our own school back home !!! Bismarck had also urged overseas alumni to sign in support of Agnes' petition.
From South China Morning Post, July 24
Fourteen-year-old Mainland-born schoolgirl Agnes
Tam Nga-yin and her adopted mother yesterday
petitioned the Director of Immigration after seeking
advice from their lawyer over a possible pardon.
Their plea to allow the girl to stay in the SAR was
supported by 1,200 signatures collected from students,
parents and teachers of Cheung Chuk Shan College in
Fortress Hill, which Nga-yin attends. The girl lost
her right of abode in a Court of Final Appeal decision
on Friday, which ruled against mainland children
adopted by Hong Kong couples.
"She has already suffered enough from being an orphan
and her adopted parents are here and need someone to
look after them. So she should have the right to
remain here," said one girl, who used to sit next to
Nga-yin in class.
Another supporter, a mother who came to the school to
register on her daughter's behalf, said: "It is not
right for the authorities to deport her under such
circumstances because the parents had no children [of
their own]."
But not everyone at the school was fully aware of the
girl's plight.
One boy said: "To be honest, until now I wasn't sure
what was going on. I had a glance at the newspaper
headlines over the weekend but didn't realise the girl
involved was actually a pupil at our school."
Campaign organiser Eric Liu Man-kit, who presented the
signatures to the Immigration Department, said he
hoped the action would help convince officials there
that many people wished Nga-yin to remain in Hong
Kong.
Principal Leung Sau-chi said the school had reserved a
place for the girl in the coming year and would also
submit a letter signed by staff to state its support
for her.
An online petition has also been set up to rally
public support.
Both Nga-yin and her mother, Tam Man Yuet-kwai, said
they were overwhelmed by the level of support as they
submitted the petition letter to the director through
their lawyer.
"Nga-yin will not be able to continue her education in
the mainland as she does not have a household
registration there," Ms Tam quoted from the letter,
which also revealed that her husband had suffered a
stroke and needed care. As the girl's permit for
conditional stay expires on August 16, she is hoping
for a quick response from the Government.
Society for Community Organisation organiser Sze
Lai-san said her group was handling 12 adoption cases,
most of them children aged four and five.
The Immigration Department said last night that its
director, Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, would consider each
case.
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"Good news!" writes Mr.Siu (26 July 2001 01:52 AM Hong Kong Time):
From Hong Kong iMail, July 26
ADOPTED mainland teenager Agnes Tam Nga-yin was "more confused than happy" yesterday after hearing that she will be allowed to stay in Hong Kong.
Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said yesterday that Agnes - ruled by the Court of Final Appeal to have no right of abode - would be allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds.
She said the paperwork was being processed by Hong Kong and mainland authorities and a formal decision would be announced in a few weeks.
Mother Man Yuet-kwai said Agnes' hopes had been raised when she saw Mrs Ip speaking about her on television but she had wept again when she heard the decision was still not formal. ``She cried immediately,'' Ms Man said.
Recovering her composure, Agnes told reporters outside the family's North Point flat later she was happy but would not celebrate just yet. ``What [Mrs Ip] said had reservations. If it was confirmed, I would be very happy.''
Mrs Ip said she had discussed the 14-year-old's case with Director of Immigration Ambrose Li Siu-kwong, and believed it could receive ``special consideration''.
Similar cases would have to be considered individually, but Agnes ``should not be a problem''. Mrs Ip denied the decision was being made under pressure from media reports of overwhelming support for the girl from classmates, teachers, family and legislators.
Ms Man cooked ginseng chicken soup to help her daughter keep her spirits up, after which the teenager took a nap while reporters and photographers waited outside.
Emerging eventually, Agnes said she had spent a quiet day with her parents. ``When there is an official confirmation, I will be sharing my feelings with you. Thank you for waiting outside here for so long.''
The Court of Final Appeal ruled last week that mainland children adopted by Hong Kong parents do not have right of abode under the Basic Law, while children born here of mainland parents do.
The ruling spelt heartbreak for Agnes and her family, but joy for the parents of three-year-old Chong Fung-yuen, who was granted permanent residence on Wednesday, just five days after the court's decision.
It is not known how many mainland children have been adopted in Hong Kong, but more than 2,000 born here to mainland parents are now expected to seek residence.
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[ End of Update 38 ]
Copyright © 2001 Felix Ching
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