Gan Haowang sits outside the meeting and petitions to urge children of mainland Hong Kong people over 14 years old to come to Hong Kong for family reunion

Father Kam Howang, who has always been concerned about human rights and the rights of the grassroots, and a group of advocates for the right of abode for children of Hong Kong people in the Mainland took advantage of the first meeting of the Legislative Council today (12th) to submit a petition letter to the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, outside the door of the Legislative Council. The 23-day camp and sit-in outside the headquarters demanded that the issue of the right of abode be effectively resolved, and the age limit should be removed to allow all mainland children aged 14 or above to come to Hong Kong to reunite with their families.

Today, Father Kam Howang joined the Right of Abode Committee, the Association of Parents Fighting for the Right of Abode and the University of Abode to petition outside the Legislative Council.

Father Kam Howang pointed out that it has been 23 years since the members have been fighting for all mainland children to come to Hong Kong to reunite with their families. This year, they will continue the tradition of sleeping outside the government headquarters and sitting for 23 days from January 7 to 29 to show their persistence to the end. .

Since 2011, the government has allowed Hong Kong people to apply for One-way Permits to come to Hong Kong with eligible "overage children" in the Mainland.

The so-called "overage children" refer to mainland residents whose biological father or mother was under the age of 14 when they first obtained their Hong Kong identity cards on or before November 1, 2001, and can apply for the "Entry Permit to Hong Kong and Macau" (commonly known as "One-way Permit") Settled in Hong Kong and reunited with his biological parents.

Kam Howang said that all the children of Hong Kong people under the age of 14 have come to Hong Kong, but some mainland residents who were 14 years old or above at the time were excluded, and they have not been able to reunite with their families.

Gan Haowang said that in 2011, he discussed the relevant issues with the Security Bureau. The Bureau said that it would consider opening it in three years, but the day when the age limit was lifted was far away. He hoped that the SAR government could fulfill the promise of that year and implement the policy to allow people aged 14 or above to be released. All children come to Hong Kong.

Kam Ho-Wang added that Hong Kong people are now eagerly seeking positive news. The people are struggling to live under the epidemic. They hope that the SAR government will resolve the issue of the right of abode, which reflects respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Petitioner criticizes unfair policy: everyone is the children of Hong Kong people

Ms. Yu, who is in her 40s, came to live in Hong Kong in 2012 with a one-way permit. Even though she was successfully approved to come to Hong Kong to reunite with her family nine years ago, she has always been striving for a policy to remove the age limit.

Ms. Yu said that she was lucky enough to come to live in Hong Kong because she met the requirements of "overage children".

Recalling the days when she was not granted a one-way permit, Ms. Yu had been traveling back and forth between China and Hong Kong with a two-way permit. At that time, she would come to Hong Kong once every three months, mainly to take care of her mother who was suffering from long-term illness, and to try to come to Hong Kong as soon as possible to reunite with her family. Therefore, I deeply understand the pain of being separated from family members.

Ms. Yu, now in her 40s, came to live in Hong Kong in 2012 on a one-way permit.

She lamented the unfairness of the policy, "Everyone is the children of Hong Kong people, and within the same legal framework, there should be no age distinction." (Photo by Lai Chin Ting)

Ms. Yu lamented that the policy was unfair. "Everyone is the children of Hong Kong people, and within the same legal framework, there should be no age distinction." Ms. Yu believes that whether or not to come to Hong Kong is an individual's human rights freedom and choice. Apply for entry to Hong Kong as needed, and the relevant age limit should also be lifted. The current daily balance of one-way permits should be sufficient for all children aged 14 or above to come to Hong Kong.

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