CHINA: TWIN LIN YEUNG MING REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY SEVEN YEARS AFTER BEING FORCED TO STAY IN CHINA WHEN HER FAMILY MOVED TO HONG KONG IN 1995

Record ID: 338341

  • Title: CHINA: TWIN LIN YEUNG MING REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY SEVEN YEARS AFTER BEING FORCED TO STAY IN CHINA WHEN HER FAMILY MOVED TO HONG KONG IN 1995
  • Date: 16th April 2002
  • Summary: (U3) HONG KONG, CHINA (APRIL 16, 2001) (REUTERS ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF REPORTERS WAITING OUTSIDE VICTORIA IMMIGRATION CENTRE 0.06 2. SLV TWIN SISTERS ARRIVING WITH THEIR FATHER 0.13 3. CUTAWAY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS 0.15 4. SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LIN YEUNG-MING, ABODE SEEKER, SAYING: "I got the phone call yesterday morning around 10.45. I feel really happy and almost could not believe the news." 0.27 5. SLV , YEUNG-MING ENTERING THE IMMIGRATION CENTRE 0.38 6. SMV TWIN SISTER LOOKING ON 0.41 7. SMV/SLV YEUNG-MING AND FATHER COMING OUT FROM THE CENTRE 0.51 8. VARIOUS YEUNG-MING ON MOBILE PHONE 1.06 9. VARIOUS YEUNG-MING SHOWING HER IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT TO CAMERAS (4 SHOTS) 1.22 10. SMV IMMIGRATION / SECURITY LOOKING ON 1.25 11. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER FRANCO MELLA, A CHAMPION FOR THE MIGRANTS, SAYING: "Twin sisters are like one person, not two persons. So, we are really relieved that at least she could come back and be united with her family." 1.39 (U3) HONG KONG, CHINA (APRIL 19, 2001) (REUTERS ACCESS ALL) 12. WIDE OF YEUNG-MING LAUGHING WITH HER FAMILY, SEATED ON COUCH 1.50 13. SMV YEUNG-MING HOLDING THE ONE-WAY PERMIT FROM MAINLAND 1.56 14. CLOSE-UP THE ONE-WAY PERMIT 2.01 15. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LIN YEUNG-MING, SAYING: "I am very happy. I have waited for many years just for this paper." 2.07 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LIN YUK-OI TWIN SISTER OF YEUNG-MING, SAYING: "I am very happy, and I feel much relief now and no more worries." 2.12 17. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LIN JIAXIANG FATHER OF THE TWINS, SAYING: "As a father, I feel very happy. After waiting for so many years, we can have a family reunion officially. I have mixed feelings and my mind still confused." 2.24 18. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LIN YEUNG-MING ABODE SEEKER, SAYING: "I want to be a social worker in future because I have gone through so many things and I understand it's a good feeling to have other people's help when needed. I want to help other people who need me." 2.39 19. WIDE OF LIN'S FAMILY SITTING ON SOFA 2.45 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA9YMGFSM8SZ9V4OQODRIPVGTAH
  • Story Text: Abode seeker Lin Yeung Ming's personal struggle to be
    reunited with her family is finally over. She has returned
    from mainland China with a one-way permit allowing her to stay
    with her twin sister and parents in Hong Kong.



    Lin Yeung Ming was only 12 years old when she was torn
    from her sister's arms and left behind as her family moved
    from mainland China to Hong Kong in search of a better life.


    Yeung Ming is among the more than 7,000 mainland Chinese
    who have endured an emotional roller-coaster ride in their
    fight to remain in Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule
    in 1997.

    Many settled in Hong Kong illegally in recent years and
    have fought lengthy court battles to remain with their loved
    ones who have long since won residency rights.

    Mainlanders lost their final appeal in January and faced
    deportation to China from April 1, when a grace period for
    them to return voluntarily expired.

    The government says it will use "minimum force" to
    repatriate them if necessary, but has given no other details.

    Beijing has tried to limit the number of people who leave
    the country while Hong Kong fears being flooded by poor
    mainland Chinese if it relaxes its immigration laws.

    But Yeung Ming's story is perhaps even more heartbreaking
    than most.

    Her story began in southern Guangdong province in 1995,
    when her parents asked her and her twin sister to play a game
    of "rock, paper, scissors".

    Little did she know Chinese officials had told her parents
    only one of the twins could settle with them in Hong Kong.

    Unable to choose, the anguished parents urged the girls into
    the game.

    Yeung Ming lost. Her sister Yuk Oi moved to Hong Kong with
    her parents and was wracked with guilt for years.

    "I am very happy, and I feel much relief now and no more
    worries," Yuk-oi told Reuters.

    Yeung-ming is now planning a lengthy celebration with her
    family and classmates next week.

    "I want to be a social worker in future because I have
    gone through so many things and I understand it's a good
    feeling to have other people's help when needed. I want to
    help other people who need me." Yeung-ming said.

    Her father, Lin Jiaxiang expressed delight that his
    daughter got the one-way permit just before the deadline.

    "As a father, I feel very happy. After waiting for so many
    years, we can have a
    family reunion officially. I have mixed feelings and my mind
    is still confused," said Lin.

    While Yeung-ming has won residency rights, thousands of
    other abode seekers are still fighting for the right to stay
    in Hong Kong as deportations continue.


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