9
admitted that financial irregularities did exist in the
School and declared that the matter had been referred to
the Education Department for investigation, a fact which
was confirmed by the Department on the 22nd April when the
teacher representatives called to present their findings.
All this apparently did not satisfy the teachers who made
it clear that they had been frustrated in that their
reasonable requests had not been adequately entertained.
Accordingly, they continued to pursue their demand for an
explanation which would be satisfactory to them.
21.
As far as the students were concerned it appears
that their attention was first drawn to the financial
irregularities in the School in early May 1977 when their
parents received an anonymous letter dated 7th May 1977
signed by "a teacher of the School". In retrospect, it
seems unfortunate that the School Management and the Congre-
gation did not explain the position more fully and directly
to the students. All the Management Committee did was to
address a letter on the 10th May to all parents in response to the anonymous letter which contained alleged details of
financial irregularities, stating only that the matter was
being investigated by the Education Department. Without
further explanation from the School Management and bearing
in mind the students' attitudes of justice and inquiry which
had been inculcated amongst them since 1973, it was not
surprising that they were not satisfied and continued to
press for further explanation. On the 8th June 1977, over
a month after the disclosure, the Acting Principal, Sister
Agnes Siu Lai Fong (Sister Beatrice Leung having resigned on
the 18th April 1977), announced to the teachers and students
that the Education Department had completed its investigations
and the case had been referred to the Attorney General and
the Police.
/22.