arrangements exist in Hong Kong for obtaining permits to hold
public demonstrations. The police require one week's notice, but
normally issue permits provided they are satisfied that the demonstrat-
ions are not to be held for illegal or immoral purposes, and will
not represent a threat to public order. There is no reason to
suppose that if a permit had been asked for on this occasion it would
not have been granted. It is not necessary to obtain permission to
present a petition to the Governor, provided it is not done as part
of a public demonstration. All residents of Hong Kong have an
unqualified right to make petitions to the Governor on any matters
of public or private concern. In this instance the Governor could
only have acceded to the petitioners' request at the expense of other
equally deserving people.
9.
I mentioned earlier that the Hong Kong Government have an
outstanding housing programme. Under this programme, over 2 million
people, no less than 46 per cent of the population, have already been
provided with subsidised public housing.
total includes 80,000 former boat people.
win reach
I would repeat that that
New houses are now being
m 1979
added at a rate which is currently about 35,000 units a year. It is
the intention to provide by 1985 accommodation for 65 per cent of
the population. This programme is impressive by any standard.
It is the more impressive when one considers that it is being
carried out in an overcrowded territory which suffers from an
acute land shortage. Many of the new houses are being built on
land created by flatening hills and filling in the sea.
10. I should like to stress the added dimension that is brought to
this problem by the relentless rise in immigration into Hong Kong
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