按: 主流傳媒對爭取子女居港權家長的「過激」行動似乎有著「過激」的報導, 傳媒似乎接近完全喪失監察政府的功能, 成為政府的宣傳工具。除了只懂報當奴曾同李少光的兩句批評和大駡遊行人士阻街, 釋法問題似乎已被遺忘, 甚至刻意不提。這篇報導算是比較詳盡地講番家長的心聲, 記者也比較有耐性約家長做訪問，至於其他華文報紙......唉, 不值一談。
轉至: 南華早報(South China Mourning Post), EDT 3, 18-6-2006
Four battle for a bridge to
their families
Four elderly men, desperate to reunite with their families after an eight-year battle with the government over right of abode, climbed on top of a footbridge in Wan Chai on Monday night and threatened to jump.
Their actions - which caused a traffic gridlock in the area for eight hours - have been condemned by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong.
However, their protest has also won them a chance to meet Security Bureau officials tomorrow. Ahead of the meeting, three of the protesters tell their stories:
LIU YUK-NGA, 62
Part-time construction worker
I came to Hong Kong in 1978 and left my wife and three children on the mainland. In 1990 my wife filed for divorce and I was awarded custody of my three children.
I applied for them to come down after the handover, but until today not one of them has been granted right of abode. I protest everyday but nobody listens. I send dozens of letters to the government and legislators, but all the government has done is ask if I need financial assistance. I don't want the government's money. I can work.
I am more than 60 years old now and I don't have a single child to take care of me. Legislators tell me to ask the mainland for help, but if that could work why would I be begging the Hong Kong government?
They say we held up traffic for eight hours, but they held up our lives for eight years. My daughter is 32 years old now. She has stayed with me in my flat for six years, hoping the government will give her right of abode. She is not married and cannot work. She is so out of touch with the mainland now she can't go back.
I work at construction sites whenever they call me and the rest of the time I collect cardboard boxes. I make $2,000 to $3,000 a month - enough to eat and pay for rent. My flat in Wong Tai Sin is about 180 sqft and I share a bunk bed with my daughter. If my daughter gets right of abode she could help me.
My two sons are on the mainland. The 35-year-old is married and owns two hair salons. My younger son is 26 years old and has worked as a mechanical engineer since finishing university. They would probably stay on the mainland to work even if they did get right of abode. But they still want it because it is their right. The law gave them this right. It is a matter of principle for them.
I can move to the mainland to reunite with them, but why should I? I live here and I will die here. I have no money and cannot do anything. What if I get sick? I would have to run back to Hong Kong for treatment.
I will never stop fighting, even if it means losing my life. The government cheated us and insulted the rule of law. Now they have to fix it. I don't care if they throw me in jail. Nothing is more important than my family.
TSE KA-KEI, 62
construction worker
When I came down to Hong Kong in 1981 I told people I was four years younger because I was afraid nobody would hire me if I was too old. I applied for my family to come down right away.
It took more than a decade, but in 1992, my wife was finally allowed to bring my youngest son to Hong Kong. My other three children had to be left behind. My eldest son had just had his 16th birthday and mainland officials would not let us take him. We had no money to pay to clear the way.
In 1994, my eldest daughter - who had heart problems - came down and stayed until 1998, when she was arrested for overstaying. She was thrown into jail for a month before 慯rial and then for another month after the trial before being sent back to the mainland. She came back with an extended visa but, while waiting for right of abode, she died. She would have been 34 years old now, if she had lived.
My eldest son came down to visit us in 1998, but one day when he went out he left his papers at home and was arrested. We didn't know and reported him missing to police. Eventually, things were sorted out and we got him a new visa. As for my youngest daughter, she used to be a teacher. She got arrested and repatriated to the mainland when immigration officials decided to raid homes for overstayers. I remember that morning they came to our flat at 6am and took her away.
We are now all living at my flat in Mongkok. It is about 300 sqft and has only one bedroom, but we don't need help. I can work for my money. I used to be a farmer. I am strong. I can be a coolie. I make $7,000 now. My wife makes $5,000 to $6,000 - although the restaurant she works for shut down today.
My son, 32, and daughter, 33, have not worked for six years because they are waiting for right of abode. If they get their ID cards they can help us.
I got on top of the footbridge because the government is doing nothing to help us. I go to every protest and even take days off work to participate, but nobody cares. We had to force the government to deal with the issue. I am not scared to die if it can reunite my family.
LAU PUI, 65,
unemployed
I came to Hong Kong in 1981. My wife and eldest son came in 1992. At the time, I put in an application for my eldest son but not the others. I thought it was logical to start with the oldest and work my way down.
Now, they say I cannot bring my other children down because they were not registered before January 29, 1999. I thought if one had the right then, all of them had the right.
So now my 24-year-old daughter and my 27-year-old son are still on the mainland. They are both unmarried. They don't want to buy a house on the mainland and don't want to find a good job because they hope to come to Hong Kong. They don't want to be separated from the rest of their family.
Before children are married they should be with their parents. They can be independent once they form their own families. But all the government cares about is money. The government's rules are ridiculous. If I [as a resident of Hong Kong] were to have an illegitimate child with a mistress on the mainland the child could come to Hong Kong, but my legitimate children I had before cannot?
I don't know how many tears our family has cried. I try to go to the mainland to visit my son and daughter every other month. Nobody understands our pain. If they could come to Hong Kong, we could all live together in our flat in Sha Tin. It is only 300 sqft but we own it. I am too old now and nobody will hire me, but my wife makes $4,500 at a restaurant and my son makes more than $10,000. We don't need any assistance.
But there is nobody on our side. None of us care about dying. I don't know if our actions will escalate or not.
My wife and children told me not to risk my safety. They said they don't want their father and husband to die just so they can get right of abode.