t
4
Office had therefore advised Mr. LUI that it was not possible for any further action to be taken to help him to obtain compensation for the sum of $850 reported to have been stolen.
9.
On the 15th December 1972 (the day after Mr. LUI had addressed His Excellency the Governor as in paragraph 7 above) there appeared in the South China Morning Post a report headed "Man without home sells his son". This prompted a further UMELCO investigation and the ULELCO Office asked the Social Welfare Department to provide a report. The report showed that the Department had been helping Mr. LUI Sung's family with public assistance since April 1972 (i.e. following his appearance in Court) and between April 1972 and November 1972 payments totalling $3,074 had been made. The financial assistance was reduced for the month of November because Mr. LUI had received an income of about $380 for this period. Dissatisfied with the reduction, he refused to accept the assistance and returned the public assistance coupons on 7th December 1972. Regarding the "sale" of his 11-year old son, Mr. BUI admitted to the Social Welfare Department that this had taken place at a price of $12,000 on 7th December 1972. He had further offered his other five children for sale in Central District on 14th December 1972 and again on 21st December 1972. This was reported to the Police and investigations were made.
10.
In reply to the letter addressed by Mr. LUI Sung to His Excellency the Governor dated 14th December 1972 a letter was written on the 1st February 1973 on behalf of the Colonial Secretary informing Mr. LUI that his allegations had been carefully examined in the past by both the Folice and officers of the New Territories Administration and by the Legal Aid Department and UMELCO Office. No evidence had been produced to support his claims and there were no grounds on which His Excellency the Governor could intervene. Nr. LUI Sung was informed in the reply that it was understood that the Social Welfare Department had provided him with assistance and it was suggested to Mr. LUI Sung that he should approach the Department again if he was in need of further help.
11.
On the 23rd October 1973 a copy of "an open letter of complaint against the District Office by a sufferer LUI Sung" was forwarded to the Secretariat by the Administrative Secretary, UMELCO Cffice. The letter repeated all the previous allegations including a statement that the building demolished was the house for which the District Office had given permission.
/12.