The ICAC incidence was brought about by a group of
police officers who were under suspicion of corruption. Being
Missatisfied with the investigations and actions launched by the
"ICAC, they decided to launch a 'war' against the ICAC. On October 30,
1977, thousands of police officers, among them were high ranking superintendants, marched to the ICAC Headquarters in Central. They attacked the main office and injured several ICAC officers. However, prior to this action, had they ever applied for a permit for this
procession and assault? After this series of actions, none of the involved pelice officers were arrested for unlawful assembly nor charged with assault, instead they were given generous amnesty for their corruption by the Governor in place of severe trial and
punishment.
On the contrary, as in the On Lok Chuen case, Yaunatei Boat people case, CTV labour case and other similar incidences, when people involved peacefully assembled to voice out their grievances or demand reasonable treatment or compensation, they were arrested, charged, convicted and punished under the Public Order Ordinance. In anm, the Pelice, the Public Order Ordinance and the Court together forms an oppressive weapon to protect, maintain and support the status qu© •
In the end, the defendants in their defence speech
demanded that the Public Order Ordinance should be dismissed
together with all the unreasonable regulations that trespass the freedom to assembly, petition, procession and expression. The y also demanded that the defendants should be discharged at once.
On June 5, seven of them were convicted. Three of them were sentenced to one-month jail suspended fær 2 years. Two others were given 3 months imprisonment while the remaining two were sentenced to one and two months jail respectively.
3. VIOLATION OF THE COVENANT
The action taken by the Police and the decisions reached by the Magistrate Court clearly violated the specific Article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Artiale 21 states that the right of peaceful
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