The 4th petition took place at 16 November. This time they appealed to the Chief Secretariat including a demand for Mr .Scott's resignation due to the acci- dents of the drowning of 5 children and 3 boats which sunk over the months of the people's resettlement movement. The group was stopped outside the Government Office by the police. Not even a representative was allowed to enter to receive the letter of appeal. Only when an officer came out to receive the letter did the demonstration end. That day the people had to give up their original plan to stay outside the Government Office because of the bitter cold but they decided to return again the next day.
'YOU HAVE NOT BEEN IGNORED' SAID THE GOVERNMENT
However, Mr. Scott announced that the Marine Department had begun an investiga- tion of the Yaumati Boat people's living situation, and a number of families would be specially treated by the Housing Department. However, he refused the former request of the people for resettlement to Cheung Sha Wan license district. He further confirmed the early principle: each family would be dealt with according to the individual situation, and the Housing Department had prepared to resettle- 7 families to Tuen Mun ( a new town which is more than 20 miles from town and is too far from the working place of the people ). The boat people were dissatified.
'IMMEDIATE RESETTLEMENT
DON'T LET THE DANGER BECOME A CALAMITY
Again two boats sank at 17 November, fortunately no injury was reported.
19 November, the boat people stayed outside the Chief Secretariat*overnight. Their slogan was : 'Immediate resettlement, don't let the danger become a calamity'.
On the other hand, the Housing Department declared tht the registration of the boat people had been carried and unless a special case was discovered the Department would only deal with the resettlement of the Boat people through the normal procedure'.
21 November, Mr. Scott declared that no concession would be given the boat people and the registration of the boat population would continue according to the govern- ment's policy. At the same time, the government began to attack the boat people through the mass media.
'THE BOAT PEOPLE ARE VIOLATING THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURE, THEY ARE VIOLATING THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE'
J
On November the Housing Department accused the boat people of not following the normal procedures in applying for public houses. According to the Housing Department statement, the boat people's violation of the government policy was also unfair to the other people who were also waiting for the allotment of public housing.
THE INTERVENTION OF STUDENTS
About 200 students of the University of Hong Kong attempted a survey to the situation of the boat people in January 1978. After the results were released-- many were able to get a better understanding of the boat people's situation. A movement was initiated to support the boat people. About 400 students each wrote a letter, and sent it along with a paper boat to the Housing Department asking for an immediate reasonable solution of the boat people's problems.
'TYPHOONS'COMING, BOATS BROKEN, IMMEDIATE RESETTLEMENT ON LAND!
In April 1978,
100 families held a press conference appealing for resettlement on land during the typhoon season. Their plea was 'typhoons are coming, our boats are broken, we want immediate resettlement on land. They appealed for resettlement of all the families, and comprehensive investigation of all the boats. The people's strong will as displayed in a series of actions finally compelled the government to make slight response : a small number of families who lived in extremely dangerous boats were given houses on land.
YMT 3