The account of autistic schoolboy Yu Man-hon's shuttle between SAR and mainland immigration counters before he disappeared last August is well documented. Similarly, everyone in Hong Kong has experienced the crowds at border crossings at some time or another, usually amid the chaos of mass migration at holiday times.

So it comes as no surprise to learn of the Ombudsman's suggested mechanisms to prevent a repeat of the tragedy. Wisely, the Immigration Department has accepted the recommendations and is making changes. It was evident that the barriers at immigration desks were not adequate to prevent people slipping through unchecked, as 43 managed to do in the three main arrival points last year. And equally obvious that there should be established liaison procedures with police for missing persons. Given passenger volume and family ties between residents in both places, the opposite side of the border is the obvious place to look if someone disappears.