Hong Kong 'to deport migrants'

Injured immigrants are taken away by police

The Hong Kong authorities say up to 1,000 Chinese mainlanders face immediate deportation following a firebomb attack on immigration offices.

We will immediately deport those who can be sent back

Immigration Director Ambrose Lee

The attack, which injured 50 people, was carried out by a group of mainlanders protesting against a refusal to grant them residency rights.

Police have arrested 15 people in connection with the firebombing.

At least seven of the injured are in a critical condition.

About 50 people were injured

Hong Kong Immigration Director Ambrose Lee said all Chinese mainlanders whose residency cases had been rejected by the courts would be deported under a vigorous but fair application of the law.

"Hong Kong is an open and liberal society, and people can air their view freely, but only in a lawful and non-violent manner," Mr Lee said.

The dispute over residency rights has proved one of the most contentious issues since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.

Firebombing

There have been numerous legal battles and protests by mainland Chinese migrants demanding the right to stay.

The migrants were demanding the right to live in Hong Kong

But the normally peaceful territory had seen nothing like Wednesday's attack.

A group of about 20 migrants walked into the immigration headquarters in the afternoon demanding documentation that would let them stay as residents.

When workers told the group to leave four hours later because the office was closing, some of them doused the floor with flammable liquid and set it ablaze.

At least 23 immigration officers were hurt, some seriously.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa condemned the attack as "brutal" and "totally unacceptable" after visiting the injured officers in hospital.

Ruling

There are some 6,000 mainland Chinese overstayers in Hong Kong claiming residency, but at least 5,000 are involved in lawsuits and will not be deported until their cases have been heard.

Last year, Hong Kong's highest court granted residency rights to anyone with at least one Hong Kong parent.

But in a controversial move the Hong Kong Government asked Beijing to intervene, fearing the territory would be swamped by migrants.

Beijing reinterpreted the law and overturned the ruling, sharply reducing the number of eligible migrants.

Critics said the move undermined Hong Kong's autonomy, which was guaranteed for 50 years when Britain handed the territory back to China.