HL Deb 12 February 1979 vol 398 cc970-2

2.38 p.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make an inquiry into the arrest in Hong Kong of 76 persons, including 48 women and 10 children, while they were proceeding in two coaches to petition the Governor regarding the need for houses for boat dwellers at Yaumati.

The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, we have received a full report on the incident from the Governor of Hong Kong. After ignoring two requests by the police to disperse, the 76 people were arrested and charged with unlawful assembly. Their arrests had nothing to do with the fact that they were seeking to petition the Governor. No charges were made against the 10 juveniles, and the adults were released on bail pending trial.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, is it not the case that the 76 persons walked or marched while they were on the mainland; that they entered coaches to pass through the tunnel to Hong Kong Island, and that they were actually arrested when they were in two coaches?—which, surely, is an extraordinary case of illegal assembly. Is the Minister also aware that they were granted bail in 200 dollars while the wage of the breadwinners is only 1½ dollars?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, residents of Hong Kong have a right to hold public meetings and processions, provided that they first obtain a police licence. Licences must be applied for seven days in advance and are issued by the Commissioner of Police, provided that he is satisfied that the proposed meeting or procession does not represent a threat to public order. Whether such a procession is on foot or in vehicles is considered in the light of the need in this very crowded, very restricted space—5 million people in a very constricted place—to maintain public order. From the reports I have received, I think that the police acted well within the ordinance and acted with considerable restraint after giving more than one warning.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, these 76 persons were in two coaches and they included a Catholic priest, a doctor, and two social workers in addition to these women and children. Is it really suggested that they were a danger to security or were an illegal assembly when they were travelling in coaches to present this petition?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, there is absolutely no doubt about the basic right of any resident of Hong Kong to present a petition to the Governor. What is at issue is whether such a petition should be accompanied by an unauthorised demonstration or procession. This is for the Governor on the spot and his Government to decide, otherwise they would not have introduced the ordinance. This applies to everybody—priests as well as everybody else—and the vast majority of the population of Hong Kong observe the requirements of this ordinance which is very reasonable. One has to apply to the police seven days ahead for the right of procession or demonstration. This is usually granted. In this case that requirement was not observed and the fact that social workers and priests were involved does not mean that that ordinance should have been set aside for that reason.

Lord BOYD-CARPENTER

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that those of us who know the present Governor of Hong Kong have every confidence in his ability to handle these situations with justice and firmness?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I entirely agree. I am grateful to the noble Lord for mentioning this fact. It is not the easiest task in any part of the world to govern a densely populated colony of this size with incursions of up to 70,000, possibly 100,000 a year from outside. That creates a strain, both on social services and on the basic need to preserve essential law and order. The requirements are reasonable; most people in Hong Kong observe them. In this case they did not. I do not see that there was an argument for setting aside the requirements of an ordinance, which is recognised by everybody else, simply because on this occasion social workers and a priest were involved.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I give notice that I shall raise this matter again at the earliest opportunity as an Unstarred Question.