The father of eight-year-old Chung Yeuk-lam, deported with her mother on Tuesday, yesterday appealed to Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa for help.
At his father-in-law's home in Haifeng, Guangdong, Chung Man-kwan said he would not consider smuggling Yeuk-lam and her mother, Chung Chau Chuk-ngan, 35, into Hong Kong again.
He called on Mr Tung to ask Guangdong authorities to allow his family to be reunited in the territory.
Mrs Chung, who appeared exhausted after the scuffle with immigration officials, said she was told the Public Security Bureau would process her application for a one-way permit, filed more than 10 years ago, according to the rules.
Smuggling people into Hong Kong has become a way of life in Haifeng.
Residents said that they had either risked their lives or had a neighbour who had entered the territory illegally at least once.