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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