A senior official yesterday broke down in tears when a pop song about justice was played during an RTHK radio interview.
Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, who is believed to be a supporter of outgoing Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang, became emotional and wept after listening to a Cantonese song, Wide Sea and High Sky.
Mrs Law said scenes of conflicts and social discord after the handover in 1997 flashed through her mind when she listened to the song and she could not help crying. The song, by local rock band Beyond, was a No 1 hit during the 1990s. It says people should fight to the end for their principles and justice.
Beyond said the song was dedicated to former South African president Nelson Mandela, who was jailed by the apartheid regime for 27 years for his role in the fight against racism in his country.
'It was sad to see society become divided after the handover and there was a lot of discord. There was a lack of unity,' a weeping Mrs Law said.
She is seen as a supporter of Mrs Chan, who announced her resignation earlier this month amid speculation that she was on bad terms with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. Mrs Law was crying in the studio for more than 15 minutes after the interview ended. She refused to comment when leaving.