The HKCIC's successful application to hold a rally clearly surprised the communists and KMT organisations and the HKFS. The HKFS quickly associated itself with the rally, and sought to increase its impact by making an unsuccessful application to stage a march by HKFS members to the rally. Neither the communist FTU nor the KMT organisations could publicly dissociate themselves from such a popular undertaking, particularly as the HKCIC made it clear that the rally would be a 'national' and 'patriotic meeting rather than a political demonstration. The pro-KMT Trades Union Council nevertheless declined to attend, though KMT supporters were advised that. they could attend the meeting in a private capacity. The FTU felt obliged to join the organising committee, since it was invited in its capacity as a member of the Joint Committee of Labour Organisations, but kept a relatively low profile. The FTU was concerned that the rally might degenerate into a violent protest.
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This concern was shared by other members of the Organising Committee, which included SZĘTO Wah of the Professional Teachers Union (PTU), YU Kwok-po, President of the HKFS, LAU Chin-shek of HKCIC and NG Sze-yin, Editor of.... Breakthrough Magazine. As a result, close liaison was established with the Police over arrangements for the meeting. Precautions against disorder included a large number of
...:. marshals (mainly supplied by the HKFS) and a strict control of the seating arrangements, content of speeches and literature to be distributed at the meeting.
Publicity ·
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On 11 September, SZETO Wah (PTU) held a press conference at which it was announced that 95 organisations would participate in the rally and that a crowd of 10,000 people was expected. The aims of the rally were.
(a)
to oppose the Japanese history textbook revision;
(b)
(c)
to oppose the revival of Japanese militarism; and
to remember those killed, and the suffering caused, by the Japanese.
The organisers, but mainly the HKFS, then embarked on an intensive publicity drive which included the distribution of some 200,000 highly emotive leaflets and posters. The organisers also put considerable effort into ensuring a good turnout from the many participating groups, some of which have large memberships.
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