George Foulkes, MP House of Commons London SW1A OAA
CIR
Catholic Institute for International Relations 22 Coleman Fields London N1 ZAF, UK
Moneral Secretary lan Lindén
May 25 1990
Dear George,
RE : CIVIL LIBERTIES IN HONG KONG
FIFTI
YEARS
CIIR
1940
1990
8
May I draw your attention to the fact that charges have been laid this week against several prominent democrats in Hong Kong, accused of infringing trivial "nuisance" laws. We believe the decision to prosecute has damaging implications for civil liberties at a particularly sensitive period in the life of the territory.
We would be grateful, therefore, if you would raise the matter with the British and Hong Kong governments.
Those whose cases are described in the attached document have been charged with two trivial offences: using a loud speaker in public without a permit from
from the Commissioner of police; and collecting money in public without a permit from the Director of Social Welfare.
The charges stem from a lawful and peaceful protest, against the constitutional proposals contained in the Basic Law, which the accused helped to organise over several days during February at the Star Ferry Terminal.
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Those named in the enclosed document prepared by the United Democrats of Hong Kong Ho Chun Yan, Wong Pik Wan, Lee Wing Tat and Lau Chin Shek are all members of that organisation and are prominent in the territory's political life. It is believed that another member of the Executive, Yeung Sum, is likely to be charged in due course.
Other activists, who are not named in the attached documents, have been charged recently, including Mr Tsang Kin Shing (for participating in the same peaceful protest), the Rev. Fung Chi Wood
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