was unlawful and advised them to disperse.
remained to hold a press conference.
action on that occasion.
Most did so, but a few
The police took no further
8. On 7 January, a group of boat dwellers and sympathisers
assembled to go to the Governor's residence to present a petition.
They had not applied for a permit and were warned that their action
was unlawful. This time they declined to disperse, and instead
set out in two coaches to present their petition. Along the way,
the coaches were stopped by the police and the occupants were
again warned that their demonstration was illegal. They were told
that, while two representatives could proceed to present their
petition, the rest of them should disperse. When they refused
to do so, the police escorted the coaches to a police station and
charged the occupants with unlawful assembly. The 76 people
concerned appeared in court on 8 January. No evidence was offered
against the 10 children involved. The 66 adults were released on
bail of about £21 each until their trial on 12 February, when they
were all found guilty as charged. The 56 boat people among them
were given absolute discharges with no conviction recorded. The
others, including a priest, two social workers and four students,
were bound over in the sum of about £32 each to be of good behaviour
for a period of 18 months. I have described these events in some
detail in order to make it clear that the authorities did not act
hastily. The people involved were given clear warning that they were
breaking the law, and had ample opportunity to change their minds.
There can be no doubt that the organisers of the demonstration on
7 January knew that their action was illegal.
//I
Well established
4
GRAD