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The Hon K W J Topley CMG JP Director of Education HONG KONG
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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
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- 7 AUG 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
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Action Tren
The
4 August 1978
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL DISPUTE
1. You will be aware that the events surrounding the closure of the Golden Jubilee School aroused a certain amount of interest here. You may find it useful to have a summary of exactly what happened.
2. The two representatives of the teachers who came to London succeeded in arousing a good deal of sympathy for their cause - even though it was evident that many of those who weighed in on their behalf had a fairly confused idea of what that cause was (the two most emotive points were the teachers claims to have been victimised for daring to reveal the financial maladministration at the school and to have been dismissed without appeal). The two teachers sought a meeting with Lord Goronwy Roberts who declined to see them on the grounds that it would be inappropriate for him, as a Minister, to discuss the case with one of the parties involved while the Committee of Enquiry was still considering the matter. But we thought it best not to give them a complete brush-off, since this would certainly have been misinterpreted by their supporters here. They were therfore seen by officials in the FCO and allowed to leave copies of documents in support of their case.
3. They also lobbied MP's and union officials. As a result, in addition to Robert Parry's eleven PQ's, we received letters from Frank Hodey MP and Tony Benn MP and from the Catholic Institute for International Relations and the General Secretary of the National Association of Local Government Officers. The subject was also raised in the International Committee of the Labour Party, where a motion was passed expressing concern over the case and calling on the Government to ensure that there was no victimisation of the teachers and pupils involved. You will be aware that the two teachers also persuaded a group of MP's to seek a meeting with the Governor, though in the event, the Governor being unavailable, it was Denis Bray they met - Denis' telegram 835 of 20 July.
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