28404 HKGOVT G
73380 GOVHK HX
RR FS (HONGAID PSE PASS ENUMED DRS)
RR
HONGA
GR 255
UNCLASSIFIED
HKGD PSE REGISTER WITH TELEGRAM
FM HONG KONG 091020Z APR 79
TO ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.449 OF 9 APRIL,
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
FOR H.K.G.D FROM SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION.
HONGAID'S TELNO.374.
70
HKk360/2
No J144
1. I HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THE MARRING OF A FUNERAL PROCESSION AS SUCH, BUT SUGGEST THAT LORD BROCKWAY MAY BE REFERRING TO AN INCIDENT ON 2 FEBRUARY 1979 WHEN A YOUNG GIRL, WONG LAI-HA, FELL FROM HER FAMILY'S MOTORISED CARGO BOAT AND WAS DROWNED. THE BOAT WAS OPERATING IN THE YAU MA TEI PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA. THE FAMILY CONCERNED ARE NOT BOAT SQUATTERS AND DO NOT BELONG TO THE GROUP OF BOAT DWELLERS AT YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECENT PETITIONS FOR HOUSING.
2. ON 24TH MARCH 1979, A GROUP OF SOME FIFTY SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS STAGED A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS IN WHICH THEY CARRIED A SMALL CARDBOARD COFFIN AND TWO WREATHS. A PROTEST NOTE WAS DELIVERED TO THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING LINKING THE TRAGIC DROWNING TO THE POOR LIVING CONDITIONS OF BOAT PEOPLE AND THEIR REQUESTS FOR REHOUSING. THE DEMONSTRATORS, WHO HAD NOT APPLIED FOR PERMISSION TO HOLD THE ASSEMBLY, LATER DISPERSED WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO BOAT DWELLERS TOOK PART IN THE DEMONSTRATION.
3. THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING PUBLICLY EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE DEMONSTRATION WAS A QUESTIONABLE AND MISGUIDED EXPLOITATION OF A VERY SAD ACCIDENT.
4. A FULL REPORT OF THE CASE WAS CARRIED IN THE 25TH MARCH EDITION
OF THE S.C.M.P. YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW THAT ON LEGAL ADVICE NO PROSECUTIONS ARE CONTEMPLATED.
MACLEHOSE
NNNN
SENT 0255Z/10 AA
284 OL
HKGOVT G
73380 GOVHK HX
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