CONFIDENTIAL
MOOD
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HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
24th May 1978
(MOVEMENT OF OPINION DIRECTION)
MOOD is written for senior officers who are familiar with the general background of life in Hong Kong, who have experience of contact with the public themselves, and who are familiar with up-to-date news of Government interest. Its objectives remain a sounding of public opinion and an assessment of public reactions, attitudes and feelings in appropriate instances. Heads of Departments are asked to ensure that their copies of MOOD are circulated selectively and stored securely at all times.
A.
The Golden Jubilee Controversy
(2325 respondents)
HKKJRO 16.
K44'
INDEX
780. $1
3 1 MAY 1978
* OR
по
Public reactions to the turn of events (1) Initially, the public at large did not pay
(2)
PA
REGI DAY
Action Teken
attention to the dispute between Principal Kwan and the Chan Chung Ling group, until the sit/in at Caritas.
As the unhappy events unfolded themselves and tension began to increase, the general public were confused and bewildered by conflicting reports, accusations and recriminations from both sides. It was impossible for outsiders
to ascertain the facts from newspaper reports.
(3) There was widespread criticism (particularly from
parents, headmaste.s and middle class community leaders) against the Chan group for staging sit-ins, which these critics deplored as an undesirable and dangerous method of airing grievances by junior secondary students. This view was clearly reflected in editorial comments during this phase, many of which advocated that, REGARDLESS of whether the Chan group had a valid complaint, they should seek redress through normal channels. The insistance of the sit-in group on the dismissal of the Principal for apparently no cogent or convincing
reason, failed to win public support and tended to show their case in a bad light.
/ (4) Even
CONFIDENTIAL #B
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