HONG KONG -- The jailing of a Mainland couple for staying illegally in Hong Kong for 20 years has left their three children, including twin seven-year-old boys, to fend for themselves with only 2,000 HK dollars (256 U.S. dollars), a news report said Saturday.

The couple's daughter, Maria, 18, said they would appeal against the 10-month sentences handed down on Wednesday.

She also urged the Immigration Department not to repatriate her parents after their release, the **** South China Morning Post **** reported.

The couple sneaked into Hong Kong in 1982 and lived an "underground" life, using other people's identity cards to work and gain hospital admission when their children were born.

"I'm very worried about the days ahead," Maria said on Friday.

"We've not paid our rent for three months. We've not only 2,000 HK dollars (256 U.S. dollars) left. And I can't let my brothers know what has happened to mum and dad." She has told her brothers, Simon and Samuel, their parents have gone to Beijing to work.

In an earlier interview, the mother said they decided to surrender to the Immigration Department last November after the court of final appeal's ruling last July that children born in Hong Kong to parents who were not permanent residents were entitled to right of abode.

The couple were charged with entering and remaining in Hong Kong illegally and using other people's identity cards.

The mother also was charged with possessing another person's identity card.

An Immigration Department spokesman said they would not comment on individual cases, but added they would carefully look into the circumstances of each case before making removal arrangements. A Social Welfare Department spokeswoman said they would consider speeding up the process of issuing public assistance to the children.