5.
The policy of the Hong Kong Government towards boat squatters
is exactly the same as towards land squatters; to allow them to
remain where they are until they can be moved into suitable
subsidised public housing. However, the boats on which they live
are examined from time to time, and, if they are found to be in a
dangerous condition, the occupants are moved to temporary housing
ashore. Since 1977, 922 people from 111 boats which have been
found to be dangerous have been rehoused. Apart from this, the
Hong Kong Government believe that there is no justification for
giving the boat people priority over other applicants for Government
housing, and they must apply in the normal way: many of them do so -
over 80,000 boat dwellers have been rehoused by the Government since
1960.
6. I now turn to the incident on 7 January As I told the House
•
on 12 February, in reply to a Question from my Noble Friend
Lord Brockway, we have received a full report from the Governor of
Hong Kong.
7. Since September last year there have been a series of demonstrations and petitions by a particular group of boat dwellers, those from the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, who are seeking priority in the allocation of public housing. Although some of the se
demonstrations were not authorised I shall describe the
arrangements for obtaining permits later no action was taken against the organisers or those involved until 24 December.
On that day
150 boat dwellers, with 50 other supporters, assembled to march
to the Government's Central Offices.
As no permit had been obtained
for the march, the police warned the demonstrators that their action
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