A top judge yesterday ordered the Government to investigate whether police have statements from mainlanders that might assist their abode claims.
Mr Justice Patrick Chan Siu-oi of the Court of Final Appeal said that if such statements existed, they would be part of a chain of evidence that could be used to establish abode claims in accordance with the landmark abode judgment in January involving more than 5,000 claimants.
His comments came during a hearing into the progress of disputed appeals by abode seekers.
There are now 320 disputed cases which have not been resolved, after the Immigration Department allowed another 25 appeals recently, while three other cases were withdrawn.
Solicitor Robert Brook, of Pam Baker & Co, requested that the Immigration Department disclose certain documents that would help resolve disputed cases.
One category of documents involves police statements allegedly recording claims made by abode seekers when they were arrested in the street.
Mr Brook said 50 to 60 mainlanders claimed they had been intercepted by police for identification checks and later made claims for the right of abode in statements to the officers.