Background Brief VI
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
The Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School Controversy
The decision by the Acting Director of Education in Hong
Kong to close the Golden Jubilee Secondary School last May provoked
a major controversy which has now spread to this country: Mr Robert
Parry MP has asked eleven Parliamentary Questions about the dispute
and a number of MPs have been lobbied by two teachers from the school
who are over here seeking support for their case. Miss Joan
Lestor MP is proposing to raise the subject before the Labour Party NEC.
2.
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The root causes of this dispute are exceedingly complex, and
many of the facts are far from clear.
gives an outline of the case.
the Governor to look into the affair presented its interim report
The attached background note
The Committee of Inquiry set up by
on 3 July: a copy of the text is attached. The committee do not
try to establish who was to blame for the dispute. They have
proposed a solution, the setting up of two separate schools, one
under the existing principal, one under a new principal for those
pupils and teachers who do not accept the way in which the old
school was being run. The Government have said that they will
accept this recommendation, although they claim that it "seems to
give the dissident teachers more than they are due."
3.
The interim report was published in Hong Kong on 14 July; at
the same time the Government announced their acceptance of its
recommendations.
A Management Committee has been appointed for the
proposed new school, and a number of other practical measures have
already been taken to facilitate the implementation of the Committee
Although we have not yet received a
of Inquiry's recommendations.
CONFIDENTIAL
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