Not Right Time To Cut One-way Permit Quota: Govt

Security Secretary John Lee on Wednesday rejected suggestions that Hong Kong should seek a cut in the daily one-way permit quota for new arrivals from the mainland, saying there is still a considerable backlog of people waiting for one.

He said the average waiting time for a one-way permit is at least four years, and therefore it is not the right time yet for Hong Kong to ask for a reduction.

Lee was responding in Legco to Hong Kong First lawmaker Claudia Mo, who suggested an interdepartmental committee should be set up and led by the Chief Secretary to look at whether the SAR government, instead of mainland authorities, should be given the power to vet applications.

Mo also said the committee could look at whether the 150-per-day quota could be reduced in phases.

But Lee said about one-third of marriages registered in Hong Kong are cross-boundary and there is no sign of a decline in this trend, so the need for family reunions continues.

Outside Legco, the Society for Community Organisation held a protest against any cuts to the daily quota.

The group's spokeswoman, Sze Lai-shan, said family reunions are a fundamental right and should be safeguarded.