Warning against move on 'kingpin's' passport

Any attempt to invalidate the Hong Kong documents of alleged smuggling kingpin Lai Changxing to avoid him being returned here could seriously affect the credibility of the SAR passport, the Government has been warned.

It is understood that Lai and his wife, Tsang Mingna, would challenge any attempt by Hong Kong immigration to invalidate their SAR passports, a move that could lead to deportation from Canada to the mainland, where he could face the death penalty for allegedly masterminding China's biggest smuggling racket.

The pair regard the SAR documents as their lifeline should they fail to secure asylum in Canada as they may enable them to leave for other destinations.

Lai, 42, and his wife are behind bars in Vancouver awaiting the outcome of their request for political asylum. They fled to Canada last year after learning China had issued warrants for their arrest.

Lai obtained his identity card in 1991 and become a permanent resident after seven years. The mainland told the Immigration Department in December last year that Lai and his wife obtained their one-way permits to Hong Kong illegally.

Democrat legislator James To Kun-sun said last night the SAR Government would have to be prudent when deciding whether it was the appropriate time to invalidate Lai's documents. 'The situation is very complicated. Whether the central Government was determined to prove Lai's document was improperly obtained would affect the SAR Government's decision in invalidating his document,' he said.