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The people could be stirred up by incomplete information about Government's intentions and provisions, or by their own preconceptions. When this sort of thing happened in the course of the Tsuen Wan village removals and clearances, as it invariably did now and then, exasperation had to be eschewed and an effort made to coax the people back into a more reasonable frame of mind. The first step in the process was to check if there was anything wrong or lacking on the Government's side. It was also necessary to listen very carefully to what the people were saying; though besides checking for misunderstandings or misconceptions, there was what I called the “operatic” element to be taken into account. A talent for dramatisation and exaggeration was evident in many of the harangues one received. Also, squeezing more money out of Government was often the aim in over-reacting and making a big fuss. In short, a range of factors had to be taken into account in assessing whether a situation was serious or not. It was this intriguing combination of complex factors that made life in a District Office so interesting, no matter what the trials and stresses of the moment.
6. Villagers Even More Subject to the Legacy
The attributes and outlook described above were to be found generally in both villages and squatter areas, but were particularly deeply embedded in the village character. This could be attributed to their residents' long-settled and established way of life in one place, and their attachment to their homes and fields. Villagers were also well aware that their cohesion and numbers made them an element to be reckoned with. Combination could be expected when there were reasons for dissatisfaction, or where there had been attempts by some parties to present a misleading or incomplete version of government's intentions. Delay to the work schedules could be expected in these circumstances, and immediate action was needed to clear obstacles out of the way. Where there was still no meeting of minds, some compromise and mutual accommodation was required, wherever possible, to resolve what could otherwise be an intractable situation.
Another facet of village character that is worth noting, because it was consistently encountered in my dealings with them, was that any appeal for local cooperation on account of the need of some other segment of the population, or even a general need like water for the urban masses, invariably fell on deaf ears. Once the villagers' initial