19
4
(c)
The behaviour of Mr. Chan Chung-ling, elected
by the teachers to address the students on
the 10th June 1977, was reprehensible. After
his briefing to the students on the financial
irregularities of the School (while the
Education Department officials visiting the
School were made to wait for their turn to
address the students), he immediately called
on all the students to leave the playground
and return to their classrooms, which they
did. The authorities had understandably
concluded that the teachers, with Mr. Chan
as the leader, were inciting the students to
defy authority.
Under these circumstances, the Director of Education felt that there were valid grounds to issue warning letters to all the 35 teachers, consequent to the sit-in. These letters, however, were sent to all teachers irrespective of the part they took in the sit-in, including a small number who did
not take any part at all.
34.
The issue of warning letters marked a new stage
of confrontation which intensified. At this stage, a group
of 'hard-core' teachers began to be formed while some others
considered that the sit-in action was excessive.
The group
of 'hard core' teachers was now convinced that, as a result
of their disclosure of financial irregularities, their employment was in jeopardy, as evidenced by the new contract terms and the warning letters from the Director of Education.
On the other hand, the School Management and the Education
/Department