GR 26
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 148925Z FEB 79
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.268 OF 14 FEBRUARY,
HICK 360/2
2
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
No
गवार
J1912 QE
MY TELNO.261: P.Q: BOAT DWELLERS.
1. ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON YAUMATEI BOAT DWELLERS' PETITION.
2. IN THE CROWDED CONDITIONS OF HONG KONG, DEMONSTRATIONS OR
PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE CONFINED TO PLACES WHERE THEY CAN REASONABLY BE HELD. SUCH MEETINGS REQUIRE A PERMIT, WHICH IS NOT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. A WELL ESTABLISHED AND WELL KNOWN PROCEDURE EXISTS FOR THE ISSUE OF THESE PERMITS. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR AUTHORISED
DEMONSTRATIONS OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO BE HELD. THE
PEOPLE CONCERNED IN THE YAUMATEI INCIDENT ON 7 JANUARY WERE WELL AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO HAVE A PERMIT BUT WERE LED BY HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL DEMONSTRATORS WHO, FOR THEIR OWN ENDS, PREFERRED TO BE ARRESTED THAN GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCEDURES.
3. THE POLICE INVOLVED WERE EXTREMELY PATIENT AND EXPLAINED TO THE DEMONSTRATORS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THEY COULD ONLY LEGALLY DEMONSTRATE IF THEY HELD A VALID PERMIT. FAILING THAT THEY WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE IN SMALL GROUPS.
4. THE DEMONSTRATORS CHOSE, HOWEVER, TO BOARD THEIR HIRED BUSES, SUMMON THE PRESS TO A PREARRANGED PRESS CONFERENCE AND USE THE
WHOLE INCIDENT AS A CAREFULLY STAGED PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE. REGARDLESS OF THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THIS EXERCISE, THE POLICE HANDLING OF THE DIFFICULT SITUATION WHICH AROSE WAS BOTH FAIR
AND REASONABLE.
MACLEHOSE
FILE S
HK & GD (5)
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET W1