VANCOUVER - Critics of Canada's immigration system are furious with the disappearance of seven Chinese migrants allowed to stay in Canada after they arrived in a smuggling ship in July.

Triads hack gov't files A published report says Chinese nationals linked to organized crime broke into the computers the Canadian High Commission in Hong Kong to hide their links with triads, the Chinese mafia. The National Post says the Canadian government has for seven years covered up the security breach, in which commission staff were allegedly bribed to delete computer files. A related concern is that some 2,000 stolen visa forms have been used for people, including criminals, to enter Canada illegally.

Officials say the disappearance follows a familiar pattern. Indeed, the current no-show rate is better than usual.

The seven, among the first boatload of illegal migrants to arrive off B.C.'s coast, had their refugee applications processed then were released into the community.

They were supposed to report this week for a routine hearing, but failed to show. Arrest warrants have been issued.

The seven aren't considered dangerous. If they don't show up within two weeks their refugee claims will be abandoned.

Of the 123 people on board the first ship, 86 were released pending refugee hearings.

In all, 20 of the migrants have not reported, although some phoned to request an extension, said an official with Immigration Canada.

Traditionally, more than half of the Chinese nationals who file refugee claims in Canada abandon them to live here illegally or to sneak into the United States.

So the current no-show rate of 10 per cent is actually pleasing news to Immigration Canada, the department's Rob Johnson told CBC News.

But a 10 per cent no-show rate isn't good enough for Gary Lunn of the Reform party.

He says send them back, lock them up.

"One, you would stop the future waves of refugees coming. Two, we would not get a reputation as a dumping ground for the refugee business, which we are," Lunn told CBC News.

Vancouver immigration lawyer Kathryn Sas says some people believe it would be impractical and unfair to keep refugee claimants behind bars.

"I don't think we can afford as a nation to detain everyone until they're proven innocent, we can't do that in our criminal system or our immigration system," Sas told CBC News.