TNAG-0911-FCO40-1121-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 83

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150 boat dwellers, with 50 other supporters, assembled to march to the Government's central offices. Since no permit had been obtained for the march, the police warned the demonstrators that their action was unlawful and advised them to disperse. Most did so, but a few remained to hold a press conference. The police took no further action on that occasion.

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On 7 January a group of boat dwellers assembled to go to the Governor's residence to present a petition. Again they were warned that, since no permit had been obtained, their action was unlawful. This time they declined to disperse and instead set out in two coaches to present their petition. Along the way the coaches were stopped by the police and the occupants were told that while two representatives could proceed to present their petition, the rest of them must disperse. When they declined to do so, the police escorted the coaches to a police station and charged the occupants with unlawful assembly. The 76 people concerned appeared in court on 8 January. No evidence was offered against the 10 children involved. The 66 adults were released on bail of about £21 each until their trial on 12 February when they were convicted of unlawful assembly. The 56 boat dwellers were given absolute discharges; the ten outsiders among the 66 were bound over in the sum of about £32 each to be of good behaviour for a period of 18 months.

Well established arrangements exist in Hong Kong for obtaining permits to hold public demonstrations. The police require one week's notice, but normally issue permits provided they are satisfied that the demonstrations are not to be held for illegal or immoral purposes, and provided they are satisfied that the demonstrations do not represent a threat to public order. It is not necessary to obtain permission to present a petition to the Governor, provided it is not done as part of a public demonstration. All residents of Hong Kong have an unqualified right to make petitions to the Governor on any matter of public or private concern.

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