JOINT COMMITTEE ON BOAT PEOPLE'S LIVING SITUATION CONCERN established
A"Joint Committee on the boat people's living situation concern" was established during the summer of 1978 by 10 social organisations who were dissatisfied with the government's handling of the problem. A working team was established to organise the families through individual visitation, and they began a survey of comprehensive situation of all the people on
the boat.
MYTH OF MAINLAND REFUGEES 'ABOLISHED
On 14 December, the Housing Department informed the press that the boat people are refugees from the mainland China who wish to obtain places in public housing.
In order to clarify the unreasonable accusation, in order to show that truth is on their side, the boat people held a press conference on 17 December. A report of a survey which was started in November and recently completed was issued. It showed that only 3% among the whole population are new immigrants from the mainland. During the conference the people decided to attempt another petition to the Chief Secretariat and to stage a sit-in outside the Government Office on Christmas Eve.
CHANNELISING THE PEOPLE'S ACTION ?
After the failure of the misleading publicity campaign by the government, growing support for the boat people from the public, the colonail authorities high-hand resorted to suppression.
On 23 December, Saturday, the boat people were suddenly informed that if they wanted to bring any petition in form of a public assembly they must apply a licence from the police one week in advance.
However, the boat people never had to apply for a licence for the past numerous actions. Besides, seeing it was Saturday and that any application could only be done the next week and that their action would be badly delayed, the people decided to follow their original plan.
24 December, 1:00 p.m. when as many as 150 boat people and 60 students arrived at Blake Pier by ferry they were stopped by the police and were told that 'their assembly was an illegal one, being without licence. Also, 'any march to the Chief Secretariat will be an illegal march'. It was a rainly day, and there were many children among the petition group. In addition the people did not prepard for such a sudden intervention by the police, therefore they decided to dissolve the assembly. A press conference was immediately held and the people claimed that the police break up of the petition assembly is a violation of the basic democratic rights, and the request for immediate resettlement was re-emphasized.
The boat people did not give up the intention of delivering a petition. The second petition was planned on 7 January 1979 in order to show that they are still firm on their demand for resettlement despite the suppression of the police. Again they did not apply to the police for a permit and they realized that they were risking arrest. Their decision was supported by all the other supporting units.
FASCIST ARREST OF 76 BOAT PEOPLE AND THEIR SUPPORTERS
On 7 January 1979, 76 boat people representatives and some supporters in two buses were stopped by the police outside the Cross Harbour Tunnel while on their way to the Peak Tram Station 'where students and other members of the supporting units were waiting to meet them to deliver the petition to the Governor's House. 76 were all charged of 'UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY' ( funny that some were charged of having 'unlawful assembly' inside the buses while others of having it inside the Police Station !!!)
YMT 4
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