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Stella Lee

Tung Chee-hwa yesterday promised to liaise more with mainland authorities in the search for autistic boy Yu Man-hon, who has been missing for 22 days.

The pledge came after the teenager's mother, Yu Lai Wai-ling, had a 15-minute meeting with the Chief Executive and appealed to mainland authorities to extend the search to community level by seeking help from schools, village groups and transport authorities.

Mrs Yu said Mr Tung, who expressed 'deep concern and care', promised to liaise with public security authorities to see how the search for her son could be boosted.

She was told Mr Tung's office had called Guangdong authorities and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing seeking further help, while Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee would pursue the matter personally.

Liang Guoju, director of Guangdong's Public Security Bureau, said last night that provincial officers would launch another search for Man-hon.

The move came as Director of Immigration Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong prepared to submit a report on the incident to Mrs Ip today.

Man-hon, 15, who has a mental age of two, ran away from his mother on August 24 at Yau Ma Tei MTR station. He then crossed the border without a travel document.

It was understood that while the report suggested Lowu border officers should be held responsible, it did not carry any recommendations for disciplinary action. But a source said it did not necessarily mean officers at fault would escape disciplinary action.

The report, to be made public soon, is the result of an investigation into whether officers showed negligence or lax procedures in allowing the teenager to cross the border illegally and sending him back later despite mainland authorities having asked them to confirm his identity. The report also will touch on improvements needed in the handling of such incidents in future.

Deputy Secretary for Security Timothy Tong Hin-ming said: 'After receiving the report, we will make the appropriate decisions in accordance with the content and recommendations made.' He said a mechanism was in place to deal with any officers found to be at fault.

Asked if the Government would pay the cost of finding Man-hon, Mr Tung said action would be taken after the issue of responsibility was cleared up. He said the prime concern was to find Man-hon, who is believed to be in Guangdong.

Mrs Yu prayed for her son at Wong Tai Sin Temple yesterday, where she drew a lot that carried an oracle suggesting her son would be found in a few months. A fortune-teller told her the oracle spoke of the blooming of Plum Blossom in Guangdong, suggesting the boy was healthy, would get help and return home by spring. 'My confidence in finding my son was boosted after hearing this. I will not give up,' Mrs Yu said.



Chief Executive promises to liaise more closely with mainland on fate of autistic teenager