XN000022-1977-06-17 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1977

NEED FOR MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER IN SCHOOLS

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MA. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TODAY | AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH THE NEED TO MAINTAIN GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE IN ALL SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG.+

MR. TOPLEY WAS COMMENTING ON THE RECENT INCIDENTS AT THE PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL.

IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT THE DIRECTOR SAID: IT IS MY DUTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL MATTERS RELATING TO EDUCATION IN HONG KONG ARE CONDUCTED PROPERLY.

+1 DO NOT WISH TO SEE A REPETITION OF INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH OCCURRED RECENTLY AT PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL. I HAVE THEREFORE ISSUED LETTERS OF WARNING TO ALL TEACHERS CONCERNED WHO WERE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INVOLVED IN A PUPILS DEMONSTRATION AT THE SCHOOL. IF THERE IS A REPETITION OF THIS BEHAVIOUR, I WILL BE OBLIGED TO CONSIDER SERIOUS ACTION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE.+

MR. TOPLEY URGES PARENTS OF PUPILS ATTENDING THE SCHOOL TO EXERCISE THEIR INFLUENCE ON THEIR CHILDREN BY COUNSELLING THEM TO BEHAVE IN AN ORDERLY AND APPROPRIATE MANNER. PARENTS SHOULD REALISE THAT PUPILS ABSTAINING FROM ATTENDING CLASSES ON THE IR OWN INITIATIVE OR AT THE INITIATIVE OF OTHERS WERE PARTICIPATING

IN ACTIONS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. A BREACH OF SCHOOL REGULATIONS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR PUPILS.

AS REGARDS DEPARTMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES OF THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTS, THE DIRECTOR REPEATS THAT THE MATTER IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS. NO FURTHER COMMENT ON THIS MATTER IS THEREFORE PROPER.

THE DIRECTOR, HOWEVER, ACCEPTS THE NEED FOR STRONG AND PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL AND TO THIS END APPOINTED AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFICER AS A MANAGER OF THE SCHOOL AT THE FIRST HINT OF ALLEGED MALADMINISTRATION IN MID-APRIL. THERE CAN BE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN SUBSEQUENTLY IN MATTERS WHICH HAD BEEN TAKEN FIRMLY IN HAND BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THE OUTSET, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

THE DIRECTOR TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS PUBLIC STATEMENT TO SAY THAT CONTRACTS RECENTLY SIGNED BY THE TEACHERS OF THE SCHOOL WERE LEGALLY BINDING ON BOTH THE TEACHING STAFF AND THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OUTLINED BY THESE CONTRACTS SHOULD BE SCRUPULOUSLY OBSERVED BY BOTH PARTIES.

IN CONCLUSION THE DIRECTOR BELIEVES THAT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY WILL WELCOME THIS EXPRESSION OF HIS CONCERN AND DETERMINATION NOT TO TOLERATE THE DISRUPTION OF GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS.

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