§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated the complaint of irregularities at the Golden Jubilee Secondary School, Hong Kong; and if the findings of the Independent Commission Against Corruption prove that the Education Department was misleading.
§ Mr. LuardThe Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated allegations involving corruption made by three teachers of the Golden Jubilee School. No evidence of corruption was found. At the request of the complainants the Education Department was not informed of the investigations at the time.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of the petition presented to the Governor of Hong Kong by the Professional Teachers Union and supported by 24 Roman Catholic priests concerning the closure of the Golden Jubilee Secondary School.
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§ Mr. LuardYes. The translation of the petition, which was in Chinese, is as follows:
Tel: 3–886383
3–884343
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union,
46–48 Man King Building,
2nd Floor, Ferry Point, Kowloon.
16th May 1978
Sir Murray MacLehose
The Governor of Hong Kong
Your Excellency
On 14th instant, the Education Department decided to close the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School and the whole of Hong Kong was startled. The consequences that this decision may lead to will make people worry all the more. Before this incident gradually worsened and developed, our Union had tried everything possible to mediate for mitigation of tension with a view to reaching a settlement. We did not slacken down our efforts despite obstructions. It is regrettable that the efforts were of no avail. Now that the affair has developed into its present state we, with our original intention of trying to achieve mitigation of tension and settlement of the affair, hereby put forward to your Excellency our proposals as follows:712W
- 1. The Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School to resume all its classes on Monday 22nd inst. The school life should return to normal, the Education Department, the school authorities, teachers, students and parents of students should immediately cease any further actions.
- 2. A special committee be formed to conduct an in-depth-fact-finding survey and to see to the school life of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School remain normal permanently so as to settle the affair thoroughly. Members of this special committee should be those of the four-member delegation recently appointed by the most reverent Baptist John Wu, the Roman Catholic Bishop. (Members of the delegation are: The Right Reverent Gabriel Lam, the Vicar-General, Mr. Peter Cheung, Vice-Chairman of Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, Father Thomas Kwan and Father John Tong.) The special committee may invite other people to be its advisors in order to assist in its work.
- 3. The special committee should station in the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School on the day it re-opens. It will on the one hand make an in-depth survey and on the other investigate into the internal relations of the school and promote communications with a view to maintaining normal school life.
- 4. With regards to the questions of whether the school should change its name, whether it should be taken over by another sponsoring organisation, whether the management committee should be re-organised, the retention or otherwise of the Principal, the renewal of contracts with old and new teachers, these can be studied by the special committee and handled later.
For the benefit of Hong Kong's education, all the students of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School, their parents and the school's teachers and staff, we beseech Your Excellency to favour us with your wise instructions. We await respectfully, Sir, your reply.Signed Seto Wah,
President,
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the Governor of Hong Kong to dismiss the Acting Director of Education.