PART 1
1. THE YAUMATEI BOAT PEOPLE CASE
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT
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The arrest On January 7, 1979, the Hong Kong police took action
against 66 boatpeople who lived in dilapidated unlicensed dwelling
boats in the Yaumatei Typhoon Shelter and their 10 supporters
composed of social workers, students, a priest and a doctor.
Because of the dangerous and unhealthy living environment of the boat people, these 76 persons had organized a petition to be taken
to the Governor of Hong Kong for decent housing on land. The police
arbitrarily stopped the 2 coach buses at the Cross Harbour Tunne 1
and prevented them from arriving at their destination -- the
temporary residence of the Governor. On board the buses were the
76 people who planned to exercise their inherent right to petition
the Governor for a redress of grievances. After holding tense
conversations with representatives of the Yaumatei people, the
police directed the bus drivers to take the coaches to the Central
· Police Headquarters where all 76 persons were arrested and charged
with illegal assembly since they had not obtained a license prior
to this action and later released on bail. Their numbers included
10 children, ranging from age 6 to age 10. (Another supporter was
later summoned by the police and charged with the same offense,
making the total arrested 77.) At the tunnel the police did not
inform the people that they were under arrest nor did the police
clearly state what section of the law the would-be petitioners had
violated.
The trial and sentence On February 13, 1979, the Magistrate's
Court convicted these 67 persons (the charges against the 10
children were later dismissed) of unlawful assembly under the
Public Order Ordinance, Chapter 245, Section 12, Subsection 2(a).
The 55 Yaumatei boatpeople were not sentenced; they were given an unconditional discharge. But the Court sentenced the 11 supporters who were placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond in the amount of $300. This has left the supporters with a criminal record.
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