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. 'She made no mention about taxpayers' money. She completely respects the rule of law.' The spokeswoman agreed that Mrs Ip had said the mainlanders should accept the High Court decision and return to the mainland. Supporters of the mainlanders said Mrs Ip was not respecting the spirit of the law - which granted people the right to appeal - by telling them to leave. This implied they were wasting taxpayers' money, they said. Chan Ka-kin, a spokesman for the Hong Kong University Students' Union, said: 'It shows the Government is really not interested in resolving the problem and developing a fair and transparent system for people to apply to live here.' The coalition of supporters include the Alliance to Fight for Hong Kong People's Right To Live in Hong Kong (a group of social workers and community activists), the Christian Industrial Committee, the April 5th Action Group, the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission and The Frontier member Cyd Ho Sau-lan.