VANCOUVER - A 16 year old boy from the first boatload of Chinese migrants has had his claim for refugee status dismissed by Canadian authorities. He is the first of more than 170 boat people to have their refugee claims heard by the Immigration and Refugee board.

The boy told the closed hearing he was afraid he'd be arrested in China because his mother is a Christian. He said he had to run away from police because they tried to stop him from handing out her religious pamphlets.

The boy said his aunt felt he'd be safe in Canada, so she paid a 'snakehead', or travel agent, to get him on the first migrant boat that landed off Vancouver Island in July.

However, the two panel members on the Refugee Board didn't buy his story. They said there were too many inconsistencies.

Don Bohun is the boy's lawyer. He says, "The boy was very, very frightened. I think he was giving answers he thought the board wanted to hear."

Bohun says the hearing was fair, but much tougher than others he's been too. He says the Immigration and Refugee Board may have heard critics complaining that it's too easy to make a refugee claim in Canada. Bohun says, "They're going to be rigorous and cautious and thorough about all these refugees." Most of the other Chinese boat people will have their refugee claims heard next month. Bohun says it is most likely his client will be deported.