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4.
Fortunately, by the time all this reached us, the Interim Report of the Committee was available and we were able to reply by commending the compromise solution proposed by the Committee of Enquiry and avoid entering into discussion of the various contentious issues that had been raised.
5. I should say incidentally that the two teachers generally created a favourable impression: they came across as enthusiastic and sincere young people who clearly care a lot about teaching.} Certainly they were a little naive, but it was difficult to recon- cile the impression they created with the image or arresponsible, power-hungry trouble makers portrayed in Hong Kong telegram 610 of 12 May.
6. In addition to the interest stirred up by the two teachers, the Education Action Group also succeeded in arousing the interest of Miss Janet Fookes MP (who, as you will probably recall, has previously shown herself sympathetic to the group's efforts to encourage educational reforms in Hong Kong). Miss Fookes wrote twice to Lord Goronwy-Roberts, on the second occasion she raised the question of whether or not the teachers had been theffirst to bring the financial mis-management of the school to the attention of the authorities, through their approach to the ICAC in February 1977. Lord Goronwy-Roberts reply was based on discussions which we were able to have with Jack Cater.
7. It looks as if the Interim Report of the Huang Committeelhas, for the time being at least, satisfied most of those who took an interest in this case. But a number of people have said that they would wait to see what comes out of the Committee's final report. I do not know whether in fact their interest will last until the final report is available - in most cases probably not, unless some- one in Hong Kong takes care to keep their interest alive. But we certainly look forward to seeing the final report, which we hope will clear up most of the remaining uncertaintities about what really happened, and why. We should welcome in due course an assessment of reactions to the Interim Report and on how well the recommendations in it worked out in practice.
8. I enclose for your information copies of the correspondece which we had with the various MP's etc. who took an interest in the case.
Cc:
D Bray Esq CMG CVO
Hong Kong Government Office
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W E quantrill
Hong Kong and General Department