3.4 THE POSITION PAPER ISSUED BY 10 ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING THE
ARREST OF THE 76 PETITION REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BOAT PEOPLE
(I) The struggle of the YMT boat people for resettlement on land over the
past years had been undertaken in forms of press conference, appealing investigation of the boats which they are living to the Marine Depart- ment and appealing to theUnofficial Members of the Legislative and Executive Council for concern about their living condition, etc. In early September 1978, a forum was held by 10 organizations in which a comprehensive report of a survey was issued and a proposal was made that the government should set out to resettle all the boat people on land. However, instead of response actively to the proposal, the Hou- sing Department tried to mislead the public by accusing the boat people being illegal immigrants from the Mainland China. Therefore, in order to express their urgent need of resettlement, the boat people accom- panied by the supporting units attempted peaceful petition to display their firm demand on houses.
(2)
(3)
(4)
We hereby pledge our full support to the reasonable demand of the boat people.
The abuse of police force, the unreasonable arrest of 76 boat people, students and social workers and priest reveals the authority's absence of sinceritv to the solution of the boat people's problem; furthermore, such arrest meand a high-handed suppression to the people's right of expressing their requests.
We emphasize that peaceful petition is the sacred right of people' expression of their requests, this is the basic right of the people and is not subject to be deprieved and trodden on. The Hong Kong government has in many instances violated the citizens' democratic rights, we strong- ly regret for all these high-handed suppression. We request an immediate cancellation of the charge to the people and guarantee similar event will not happen again.
We firmly request that an immediate and gradual resettlement of YMT boat people is to be put into practice in a short furture( within six months) in orfer to completely solve the problem.
College Students Association
The Students Union of the University of Hong Kong The Hong Kong Federation of Students
The Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students
The Students Union of the Chinese University of H.K. The Current Affair Committee of the Students Union, Polytechic Institute of H.K.
Tsuen Wan Labour Education Cordinating Committee Society of Community Organization
Kwun Tong Inquiry Service
The Current Affair Committee of the Students Union, Baptist College
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