THERE are fears a misguided political campaign may be behind last week's death threats and acts of vandalism by Tung Tau residents angry at the proposed opening of a Down's syndrome day centre on their estate.
At first the attacks looked like yet another spontaneous outbreak of prejudice against this harmless section of the community.
Tenants on the estate had previously clashed with the Government over plans to open another hostel for the mentally handicapped nearby.
The hostel was supposed to open in March but these plans were postponed due to the residents' pressure. The atmosphere cooled.
But when plans to open the Down's syndrome day centre were made public, the same tenants felt their opinions were being ignored.
Their fury erupted and last Saturday's attack on the Down's syndrome centre was the result.
That, at least, is the straightforward chain of events. But it is not, it seems, the whole story. For behind the banners and the aggressive slogans of the demonstrators lies a complex agenda of politics, prejudice, suspicion and fear.