More than 200 mainlanders who lost their right of abode after January's landmark judgment launched a new fight yesterday.
The abode seekers say they are entitled to stay in the SAR because they have been here legally for more than three years - a criterion which qualifies them to apply for an unconditional stay from the Director of Immigration, the Court of First Instance heard.
But yesterday the Director of Immigration launched a closed-door hearing to strike out the abode seekers' claims and prevent their case being heard, on the grounds they were without legal basis.
The proceedings were broadcast outside the court and members of the press were allowed to report the case as it was judged to be in the public interest.
Senior government counsel Joyce Poon Man-han told Deputy Judge Andrew Cheung Kui-nang that the case was one of 10 involving 1,400 applicants that had been listed for hearings in the High Court.
Ms Poon said the majority of the 214 claimants embroiled in yesterday's hearing came to Hong Kong on two-way permits but had overstayed. The rest were illegal immigrants.
The abode seekers, who were all present in court yesterday and represented themselves, argued that they had relied on an immigration application form to extend their stay.