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reach about 35,000 a year in 1979, and it is hoped that by 1985 accommodation will be available for 65 per cent of the population. This programme is outstanding by any standard: it is made the more impressive by the fact that the Government are having to cope with a population that has increased more than seven-fold in 35 years, and must provide this rapidly expanding population with homes in a tiny territory that suffers from an acute land shortage.
In such a situation, it is understandable that people should become frustrated, and try, as the Yau Ma Tei boat dwellers did, to jump the queue. It is this which led to the incident on 7 January when 76 people were arrested. I must emphasise, however, that they were not arrested for seeking to present a petition to the Governor. All Hong Kong residents have an unqualified right to petition the Governor on any matter of public or private concern. They do not need prior permission to make a petition. They do, however, need permission to hold a public demonstration or procession in order to present their petition, and it was the failure of the boat dwellers to obtain the necessary permission which led to the arrests on 7 January.
In Hong Kong, anybody wishing to hold a procession or public meeting must apply to the Commissioner of Police for a permit seven days in advance. In the crowded conditions of Hong Kong, this advance notice is necessary to enable the police to make suitable arrangements to ensure that demonstrations take place with the minimum inconvenience to other members of the public. It is not the intention to ban public demonstrations: permits are normally granted, unless there are reasons to believe that the demonstration is for an illegal or immoral purpose, or represents a threat to public order.
They
This law is well known, and there can be no doubt that the organisers of the demonstration on 7 January were aware that their meeting broke the law. Indeed, they had been warned on a number
On this of previous occasions of the need to obtain a permit. occasion, they were warned by the police when they first assembled that their meeting was unlawful, and were advised to disperse. declined to do so, and instead set out in two coaches to present their petition. Along the way, the coaches were stopped by the plice and the occupants were again told that they were breaking the law and must disperse. They were informed that two representatives could proceed to the Governor's Residence to present their petition. When they again declined to disperse, the police escorted the two vehicles to a police station and charged the occupants with unlawful assembly.
No evidence The 76 people concerned appeared in court the next day. was offered against the 10 children involved; the 66 adults were released on bail of about £21 until their trial on 12 February, when they were convicted of unlawful assembly. The 56 boat dwellers among them were given absolute discharges. The 10 outsiders were bound over in sums of about £32 each to be of good behaviour for a period of 18 months.
You also quoted a report to the effect that only 1,059 of the 1,668 children below the age of 14 among the Yau Ma Tei boat people
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