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PART III THE DISTURBANCES
staged a demonstration at the ferry concourse on the Kowloon side, soliciting signatures from passers-by in blank exercise books. Shortly after, they were joined by a youth with a flag. According to AU YEUNG, the suggestion for the demon- stration in Kowloon was made by SO, 'who said something to the effect that it would not be enough to confine ourselves just to Hong Kong side, there must be activities also in Kowloon'.
89. Other similar accounts of the events of the afternoon of April 5th were given to us by a number of the demonstrators who joined SO at the ferry con- course. RAGGENSACK and LO Kei described how the former made a short speech in support of SO whilst RAGGENSACK and a young factory accountant, called Miss LUI Fung Oi, gave accounts of SO's arrest. The motives for the young people joining SO were stated as follows:
'LO Kei: "I felt what he was doing was completely consistent with righteousness"
"As it was a public holiday I was very glad to join him”.
RAGGENSACK: "and then I told one of the reporters, I think, somebody should
support him or help him out in a way".
Miss LUI: "I supported him in his opposition to Star Ferry fare increases". Q. Had you thought about this before?
A. No.
Q. The idea came to you then, did it, as you watched So?
A.
Correct'.
90. All these young people in their evidence to us denied having known each other before and all agreed that, although they opposed fare increases, they had not thought of doing anything about it until they saw SO's protest. The single factor which brought them together was curiosity about SO and his hunger strike, which came to their attention mainly through newspaper reports.
91. SO's arrest. Shortly after 3 p.m. on 5th April, SO moved with RAGGENSACK to a position immediately outside the first class entrance to the ferry piers and, within a few minutes, a crowd of about 60-100 persons had gathered around him, causing an obstruction to the turnstiles. At 3.45 p.m., he was warned by police officers to move and told that if he did not do so he would be arrested. He ignored the warning. He was given a second warning. Again he refused to move and at about 4 p.m. he was arrested and taken away. There was some reaction from the crowd, a certain amount of jeering and shouting, as the Police took him away. At Central Police Station he was charged with obstruction and offered bail, which he refused.
92. Visit to Government House. Immediately after SO's arrest, RAGGENSACK walked over to the other demonstrators to warn them of the arrest and it was decided to go to Government House to present a petition. There is some conflict of evidence as to who prepared this petition and as to whether the intention was
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