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Sharing of Case in Media Management

Induction Programme for NAPs

November 12, 2012

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Dr. Wong Chung-leung

Principal

Heung To Middle School

( 香島中學 )

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“A 13-year-old boy fractured his fingers and almost lost his eyesight after setting off some sort of explosives.”

文匯報 2009.3.28

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2009.3.28 （ SAT ）

3:30 am• I was waked up by a call from school security

officer and told that a S1 student was injured by explosion of a “homemade bomb”.

• The student was arrested and admitted to hospital after almost blowing off his hand.

4:30 am• Police came to school to investigate the source

of the “homemade bomb”.

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2009.3.28 （ SAT ）

5:30 am• Principal, Vice-principal and Crisis management

team members came to school.

6:30 am• Principal and Class teacher visited the injured

student and his parents in the hospital.

8:00 am• Police suspected the classmates at school

learned how to make the explosive TATP powder on the internet.

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2009.3.28 （ SAT ）

10:00 am• Some classmates were invited back to school for

investigation. • Two more students were confirmed keeping the

explosive TATP powder in their homes.• The two students were arrested for possession

of explosives.

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2009.3.28 （ SAT ）

12:30 pm• Media rushed to school. • No formal comment was made since it was

under police investigation.• Some information of the injured student was

provided: a good student with an interest in robots. He was serious but in stable condition.

16:30 pm• All three students were released on police bail.

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SCMP 2009-03-29

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明報 2009.3.29

蘋果日報 2009.3.29

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2009.3.29 （ SUN ）

• The incident was given wide media coverage.• Police investigations revealed a student learned

how to make TATP online and bought the necessary chemicals from local hardware stores.

• Police investigations found they made the explosive powder for fun and out of curiosity. They did not intend to commit crime.

• School got contact with the students and they felt deeply regretted.

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2009.3.29 （ SUN ）

• Crisis management team met and decided to voice out for the students.

• With the consent of parent, the student who assembled the explosive was willing to make public apology.

• Preparation for school day resumed on Monday, e.g. counseling to classmates and parents in need.

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蘋果日報 2009.3.30 東方日報 2009.3.30

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2009.3.30 （ MON ）

7:45 am• Media waited in front of school gate for further

information.• We informed the media a press conference

would be held at 15:30.

8:15 am• Principal made an announcement to all students

through PA system.

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2009.3.30 （ MON ）

9:00 am• Social worker and counseling teachers met with

the classmates. They wrote support letters to the students involved.

10:00 am• Formal statement by school was drafted.

10:30 am• A letter of student’s public apology was sent to

school.

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2009.3.30 （ MON ）

14:00 pm• Preparation of press conference. • Media was allowed entering into school for

setting-up.

15:30 pm• Press conference started. • Why at 15:30 pm ?

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2009.3.30 （ MON ）

Press conference• Clarify the incident• Findings from police investigation• Appeal for leniency • School provided support to students in need• Letter of apology from the student• Support letters from classmates• Follow up education

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Thank you