3.8lamentation
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PHILOSOPHY OF UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY
Date: Jan,7,1979.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Place: Hong Kong Island at the exit of Cross Harbour Tunnel
No. arrested : 76
Nature of offence: suspected of unlawful assembly
Cause intend to gather petition procession to Quarter of the Commander-in-Chief
The Finance Secretary, Hadden Cave had once commented that the political system of Hong Kong "The Hong Kong Government, basically counts on inquiry and public opinion in its rule! Nonetheless, in view of the petition of the Yaumatic Boat people, Cave's word is only a myth.
THE MYTH IS GONE
The high-handed measure taken by the government towards the petition of the YMT boat people sinifies the boat people's problem in fact exerts pressure on the govern- ment.
(1) Clash of economic benefits
This clash is orignated from the nature of the boat people issue. Mrs. Elsie Elliot once commented during a press meeting on the issue that "Public housing is designed for the sake of compensation. Some citizens are evacuted from the spot that can be auctioned. But the typhoon shelter which the boat people live is of no economical value, so the Government is in the least interest of settling them. When the government expressed that a certain slum area is devastated and should be pulled down we have to understand its intention is not to settle those people who live in the hellish environment, but rather to take this spot of land !"
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This comment can succintly depict the problem of Hong Kong Housing Policy. Under such inhuman environment of great risk of the residents' security, it is very reasonable for the Boat people to voice and exert their demand.
Somehow, the government accuses them of making use of their boat to exchange lodging. The government even distorts the image of the boat people as refugees from mainland China . This response shows the stubborness of the authority.
What is more is that this problem pin points exactly on the nature of the Housing Policy of the Hong Kong Government. If the boat people can receive wide support from the public, the profit-making housing policy is bound to be affected. This exact hit on the core issue of profit-making nature of the Housing Policy is a very contradiction which embarrassed the Government.
(2) A Single spark can set the whole praire afire !
Petition, as all know, is the last resort people turn to when possible channels between the government and the public are blocked. Actually it is only an illusion that a social problem can be solved this way. Therefore, we can only socialize the problems so as to gain public support and hence exerts pressure on the government . With the growing accumulation of experience, the social movement is no longer in its elementary stage as the public gradually recognizes that only by publicizing the issue then can public support be possible, which in turns determines very much the possibility for the solution of the problem.
Despite the inadequacies in the actions during the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School Issue, so far as the form of the movement is concerned, there is already a breakthrough. Widespread support was generated from the public sectors as it didn't serve narrow individual interests; instead it signified very much the broadened solidarity based on social interest on the problem of abuse of power of the government and on the local educational problems.
Social movement is more and more a menace to the government. It is well represented in several recent local issues which greatly discredited the reputation of the government. She can tolerate this increasing strength of public opinion no more.
MT 22
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