Expelled Sri Lankan teenager escapes to Hong Kong

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

A 16-year-old Sri Lankan expelled from New Zealand to her homeland has fled to Hong Kong rather than be forced to testify against a sexually abusive uncle.

She is staying with her mother, who has worked in Hong Kong as a domestic servant for more than eight years, but she has only a one-month visitor's visa as she is too young to be allowed to work there herself.

The girl, who was sedated and handcuffed on a forced flight back to Sri Lanka with her grandmother on February 12, told the Herald last night that she feared recrimination from her father's brother if compelled to give evidence at a court case there next week.

"There will be no use of it, people will pay for him to get out of jail," said the girl, whose name has been suppressed by this country's High Court.

She was unaware of a phone call which one of her New Zealand lawyers, Carole Curtis, said her estranged father had made to her mother threatening harm if she gave evidence in court against his brother.

She suspected her mother was trying to avoid upsetting her as her father had made similar threats previously. And she feared for her grandmother, who could not afford to travel with her to Hong Kong and went into hiding in Sri Lanka after the pair's time ran out at a Catholic convent there.

The girl, who wants to study to become a doctor, said she remained distressed about being expelled from New Zealand - especially after noting the success of some criminal refugees in gaining residence.

"To be honest, I was really upset - I hadn't killed anybody," she said.

She had made good friends here and wanted to return. "I have seen the life. If they let it be my country I will serve it as well as my country because I love New Zealand."

Ms Curtis said she and her colleague Philippa Cunningham pleaded with the Government last week for the girl to be allowed to return on an international student's permit as she and her grandmother were given until the weekend to leave the convent.