Anxiety turned to smiles for two homesick sisters yesterday when they were freed from a girls' home pending a court challenge over their right of abode.
Cheng Yin, 10, and Cheng Yin-nei, eight, grinned as their mother punched the air after a judge ordered their immediate release.
The decision came in time to enable the family to be together for Lunar New Year.
'I want to go home. I miss it,' said Yin-nei, resting her hand on her mother's shoulder as she awaited the ruling. Her sister, Yin, said: 'I miss my mummy.' Mother Mrs Cheng said: 'Of course, I've been thinking of them all the time. I hope we can spend the Lunar New Year happily together.' She added: 'I don't understand the Immigration Department. My girls, who are only children, have spent more than 40 days in jail.' The girls were among 11 migrants freed yesterday when a judge blocked their removal to the mainland and said they could stay to bring their case to court.
Mr Justice Frank Stock said the Government might have breached its policy by trying to send the pair back to the mainland after they had been granted legal aid.
The sisters had been detained in Ma Tau Wai girls' home since December 21 last year when they skipped school to make their regular report to the Immigration Department.
