CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 260
13
GR 625
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 060900Z
FM HONG KONG 060655Z FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.207 OF 6 FEBRUARY,
KIDEX
No
|
Jala CLE
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
YOUR TELNO.99: HOUSE OF LORDS P.Q: BOAT DWELLERS.
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT BRAY HAS BEEN ASKED TO SEND WILLIAMSON A
COPY OF A BRIEF ON THE YAUMATEN BOAT, DWELLERS CASE PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION, IN RESPONSE TO WILLIAMSON'S LETTER OF 25TH JANUARY. WE ARE PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING FURTHER INFORMATION
ON WHICH TO BASE A REPLY.
2. THE BACKGROUND TO SOCO IS CONTAINED IN M.I.F.T.
3. SOCO AND STUDENT BODIES HAVE CAMPAIGNED ON BEHALF OF YAUMATEI
BOAT DWELLERS SINCE MID-1977. THERE HAS BEEN A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND PETITIONS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1978. THE POLICE HAVE
EXERCISED RESTRAINT EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN UNLAWFUL BECAUSE THE ORGANISERS DID NOT SEEK PERMISSION TO HOLD
DEMONSTRATIONS.
4. THE CURRENT SITUATION DEVELOPED FROM THE 24TH DECEMBER 1978 WHEN
150 BOAT DWELLERS AND 50 STUDENTS GATHERED TO MARCH TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES. NO PERMIT HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE MARCH AND POLICE AGAIN WARNED THOSE CONCERNED THAT ACTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. EVENTUALLY THE MAJORITY DISPERSED BUT A HARD CORE STAGED AN IMPROMPTU PRESS CONFERENCE. POLICE TOOK NO ACTION ON THAT OCCASION
5. ON 7TH JANUARY 1979 REPRESENTATIVES OF BOAT DWELLERS AGAIN
GATHERED AT YAUMATEI INTENDING TO GO TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE TO PETITION
GOVERNOR. POLICE WARNED THEM THAT PETITIONING IN SUCH NUMBERS WAS
UNNECESSARY AND WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. ARRANGEMENTS FOR SMALL GROUPS
TO PETITION EXIST AS A MATTER OF COURSE. THIS ADVICE WAS IGNORED
AND THOSE CONCERNED THEN BOARDED TWO COACHES AND PROCEEDED THROUGH
CONFIDENTIAL
THE CROSS
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