-2-
"After I had reported the incident to the Police they sent a detective to take photographs of the hut after demolition, and these are kept in Room 23 of the Yuen Long Police Station. 11
*
When Mr. Lui Sung, the complainant, approached me about this matter on 17th. October, 1973, I immediately wrote to the Colonial Secretary to ask, for an investigation. It required several reminders before I received a reply anted 13th. December, 1973. It is quoted in full below:
:
"I have examined the circumstances of Mr. Lui's case referred to in your letter L/309/73 dated the 20th. October, 1973. I am satisfied that his allegation concerning the theft of $850 at the time of the demolition of the kitchen was fully investigated by the Folice and by officers of the New Territories Administration. Mr. Lui sought legal aid for the purpose of suing the Government for compensation for the loss of $850 but the application was rejected because in the view of the Director of Legal Aid there were no reasonable grounds for instituting proceddings. Mr. Lui appealed against this ruling to the Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court, who upheld the refusal to grant legal aid in this case.
"The permissible floor area of buildings on land held under Permit is 400 square feet. I am informed that Mr. Lui already has buildings with floor areas totalling 433 square feet. It is therefore not possible, under existing policy, to allow the re-erection of the kitchen.
"Mr. Lui's case has been exhaustively investigated in the past and the following my examination of the relevant papers and frem enquiries I have made I am drawn to the conolucion that it will not be possible to meet Mr. Lyi's requests as detailed in your letter of the 20th. October, 19737
Yours faithfully,
G.L. Mortimer for Colonial Secretary:
This reply from the Colonial Secretary leaves the whole natter unexplained: the allegation that Lee asked for a bribe; the children's statement that the money was stolen from the drawer; why the hut was demolished' luring the absence of both parents; why it had to be demolished at all without first pointing out if it measured a few feet too large. Indeed, the investigation was done with papers, and without even interviewing Mr. Lui himelf, or his wife, even about the bribery claim.
This is the existence of Godbers in Hong Kong, is going to check on what they do, be totally ignored.
kind of "investigation" that has resulted in the doing what they like in the knowledge that no org and knowing that complaints by the people will
I hope that Mambers of Parliament will accept my assurance that this is not an isolated case, but is happening daily in Hong Kong, and the people have no means of redress. At the next riots, such people may join in to get revenge
P
and who could blame them?
Yours faithfully,
E. Quiste
Elsie Elliott
(Elected' Urban Councillor).