13
Wednesday, May 10, 1972
REPLY TO PETITION FROM HONG KONG FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
An answer has been sent today to the Hong Kong Federation of
Students in reply to the petition which they delivered to Government House
yesterday.
said:
In the letter of reply, the Private Secretary to the Governor
"Bis Excellency has read your petition of May 9 about your wish
to hold a peaceful demonstration on May 13 over the transfer of the
Senkaku Islands,
"He is ready to authorise permission for such a demonstration
provided you hold it in an orderly way, and he notes that this is your
intention. But the demonstration must be held somewhere that does not
inconvenience the rest of the community, and that does not make a breach
of the peace likely.
"The Government has ruled that the Central area, including Edinburgh
Place which you mention, is unsuitable for demonstrations, and permission
is never given for demonstrations in it. The Commissioner of Police has pointed
this out to you. His Excellency has reconsidered this policy and is satisfied
that it is right and should be upheld, and that no exception should be made for
you or for anyone else. He emphasises that this policy has nothing to do with
the object of a demonstration whether Government sympathises with it or not.
His Excellency wishes you to understand the reasons behind this. Central is a
crowded area, Edinburgh Place itself lies between two of the busiest streets
in Hong Kong. Not only would a demonstration there cause disruption of pedestrian
/and vehicular
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