TNAG-0911-FCO40-1121-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 113

1. Preface

group of Yaumati boat people of Hong Kong was setained by the police on their way to petition the governor on January 7, 1979 and all were charged with 'Unlawful Assembly'. The two buses they were travelling in were stopped by the police at the exit of the cross harbour tunnel--more than a mile from their intended destination --the governor's home. Among the 76 people there were 6 students 3 social workers, a medical doctor and one catholic priest who were supporting the boat people. All the people, including 10 children from 7 to 12 years of age, were charged with 'Unlawful Assembly' and were later released on bail the same day.

The fishermen are decendants of the earliest residents earned their living by fi- shing in Hong Kong before the colonization by the Bristish. The fishing is nor- mally on a small scale because of lack of big fishing boats and advanced technical equipment. A fishing familu usually lives on a boat which is also used for fishing. These fishing usually moor inside the typhoon-shelters. Since fishing on a small scale began deteriorating in the past twenty years, more and more fishermen turned to factory works or other types of work on land. However, the fishermen family usually has a big number of children, because the traditional fishing family needed hands to help with the fishing. As a result, the children usually have to sacrifice the opportunity of education in order to help. Hence the fishermen are generally

and unskilful workers. undeduacted and so apart from fishing they can only be manuel Again the low salaries of manuel workers cannot afford the high rents of a big family on land ( according to the information of a survey each family has an average of 7 children), therefore even though they are no longer occupied in fishing, they still have to dwell on a boat which is approximately 100 sq. fts in area.

Among the 7,000 boat people in the Yaumati typhoon shelter there are about 3,000 people who are urgently need resettlement on land because of their poor livinĮ condition ). In 1977, the boat people began to appeal for resettlement on land The movement started after their request was refused. Many actions have been taken such as a number of press conferences, general forums, petitions to the Housing Department Chief Secretariat and also the Governor's House. The people are also supported by several student units, labour and residence organizations. However, except for a slight concession such as a small scale of resettlement of a hundred people, the whole situation of the YMT boat people is bascially unsolved.

The movement met its largest blow from the government at the end of December, 1978 when a petition group including boat people and the supporting students was stopped by the police and warned not to go ahead with the petition ot all would be charged. On 7 January 1979, 76 representatives of the boat people and the supporters were arrested and charged with 'Unlawful Assembly'.

Among the arrested are 3 college catholic students who have been active-

ly taking part in the boat people's struggle and Rev. Fr. Francisco Mella, PIME, who has been working with the poor and the oppressed.

THE FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC STUDENTS OF HONG KONG HERE APPEALS FOR SOLIDARITY SUPPORT FOR THE ARRESTED WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. WHATEVER FORMS OF SUPPORT TO THESE OPPRESSED WILL CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMPLETION OF THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. WE ALSO SUGGEST YOU SEND MESSAGES OF CONCERN TO THE GOVERNOR

C/O THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE.

YMT 1