Q1: Why would ‘public opinion’ affect the success of the movement?
1) It would provide ongoing support for all kinds of action
To counter the majority of the media controlled by pro-establishment
Our action relies heavily on the publicity, information and people from the public support
2) Strengthen our bargaining power
A portion of pro-establishment parties and influential individuals make their decisions based on public opinion, if we have the public opinion on our side, we can leverage those people to pressure the government.
3) Amplify the voices of non pro-establishment
Q2 How is the government trying to regain public support?
Pretend to be the victim to gain sympathy
- Emphasize on the police being the victims of the 621 siege
- Use negotiators to handle the protestors
Try to subside public anger
Postpone the legislation of National Anthem Law / Lantau Tomorrow Visions (Artificial Island that costs over $500 million)
Officials coming out to apologize ‘sincerely’
Creating a ‘Rioter’ image for peaceful protestors
6.21 Closing Legco and canceling the finance committee meeting
Claiming the police were not able to assist people in need because of the protest
Pro-Establishment spreading false news
“Suspension means the amendment is shelved” (False)
“We’ve released all prisoners” (False)
“The current system is sufficient to monitor the police” (False)
Delaying all responses to demands
Attempting to polarize people
Wearing away protestor’s morale
Waiting for protestors to make mistakes and lose public support
Q3: Is public support really turning? I don’t feel it!
‘Echo Chamber Effect’ makes it really difficult for us to fully know the public opinion.
In the era of social media, people are segregated into communities, with people cycling through the same thoughts and opinions in the same circle
This makes people believe that what they see is mainstream public opinion
It becomes impossible to understand how others see and how things are changing from the outside
E.g
How does the public see the occupy movement (HKU study)
2014 September
54% Support
27% Oppose
2014 November
70% Stop the Occupy
24% Continue to Occupy
1 - Yellow and Blue (support and against) opinion is not a 5:5 ratio, it is 3:7 or 2.5/7.5 ratio
2 - Towards the end, even the people in the middle changed their minds to oppose the occupation.
Q4:How to convince the other side?
The Under-estimaters
“Its already ‘suspended’, it won’t affect me anymore
= They can bring back the second reading of the amendment anytime! Police using excessive force is a threat to all of us!
The Sympathizers
“The CE already apologised, lets not push it”
= The CR hasn’t responded to any of the 5 demands we’ve made since 6.16
The Fearful
“If you keep doing this, you’ll mess up Hong Kong”
= Rather than blame the person who found the problem, blame the ones who created the problem
The Ignorant
“The police seemed so friendly on 6.16, there wasn’t excessive force”
= Go watch the videos of 6.12
The Powerless
The government won’t respond to you
= If you are willing to stand up, the world won’t be the same anymore
Take the time to convince people around you, turn public support to the side of the ‘Eggers’
Q5 How to fight the “Opinion War”
Emphasize on the Gravity of the Situation
Lack of police monitoring
Looming extradition law amendment
Persist in Telling the Truth
Neighborhood screenings of police brutality on 6.12
Send out invitations, like, share
Refocus the Demands
Investigate the Police
Withdraw charges from the arrested people
Polarize the Enemy
You get it
Neighborhood Publicity
Take part in street booths
Pass out fliers
? Each brother will climb the mountain in their own way