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Nearly all mainland children smuggled into the territory this year have been granted temporary permission to stay, it emerged yesterday.
But critics said the decisions encouraged illegal immigration.
Official figures showed 1,244 of the 1,367 child illegal immigrants who arrived between January and March turned themselves in to the authorities. The others were arrested.
The number was a significant increase on the 540 youngsters surrendered to the authorities during the whole of last year.
The children's parents usually appeal against repatriation on humanitarian grounds and are issued with papers allowing them to remain legally for prescribed periods, which can be extended.
The papers are popularly called walk-free permits.
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