7. On 7 January a group of boat dwellers assembled to go to the Governor's residence to present a petition. Again they were warned
that, since no permit had been obtained, 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 told that while two representatives could proceed to present their petition, the rest of them must disperse. When they declined 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 will appear for trial on 12 February. the meantime they have been released on bail.
In
8. Well established 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 demonstrations are not to be held for illegal purposes, and provided they are satisfied that unacceptable inconvenience will not be caused to other members of the public. 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 matter of public or private concern.
The Society of Community Organisation (SOCO)
9. The campaign on behalf of the Yau Ma Tei boat dwellers has been coordinated by the Society of Community Organisation (Soco). SOCO was founded in 1971 by the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches to train young social workers in the fostering of a sense of community awareness, and the encouragement of participation in the solution of community problems in Hong Kong. It has a small number of paid field staff, supported by a large number of volunteers, mostly undergraduate students. Although sometimes guilty of seeking too much too quickly, it has established itself as an effective and essentially responsible organisation. It is financed by contributions from Christian organisations in Hong Kong and abroad.
Hong Kong and General Department
February 1979