Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee was urged to apologise yesterday for allegedly accusing mainland overstayers of wasting taxpayers' money by filing a court appeal to remain in Hong Kong.
A coalition including a legislative councillor, community activists and university students said a public apology was needed. They said she implied this week that the group of 1,200 mainlanders were wasting public funds by appealing against a recent High Court decision, which said they should return to the mainland to await permission to immigrate here.
Mrs Ip could not be contacted yesterday, but a Security Bureau spokeswoman said the comments were taken out of context.
She said Mrs Ip was responding to a question about whether she was worried the group of mainlanders were making frequent use of the legal aid system.
'Mrs Ip said: 'Of course I'm worried',' the spokeswoman said. She added: 'I don't find any problems with Mrs Ip's comment.
'In fact, in answering another question about whether the mainlanders had a right to hold the sit-in in front of the Central Government Offices, she said they clearly had the right to express their opinion.