TNAG-0798-FCO40-1002-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 137

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ACTION ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE COMMITTEE'S TERMS OF REFERENCE

EXCLUDE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE SCHOOL'S CLOSURE. THEY DO NOT. BUT TO MAKE THE SITUATION CLEAR (AND AT MY REQUEST) DR HUANG

HAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT

A. WITHOUT CONDUCTING A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF PAST EVENTS

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR HIS COMMITTEE

TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE: AND

B. THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE BROAD AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH FOR

THEM TO COMMENT ON WHATEVER MATTER IS DEEMED RELEVANT AND TO MAKE

ANY NECESSARY RECOMMENDATIONS.

5. THE TEACHERS' CASE IS BEING FULLY PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE WHO HAVE, SO FAR, HELD THREE MEETINGS WITH THEM LASTING FOR A TOTAL OF THIRTEEN HOURS, AND ALL ASPECTS OF THE CASE PAST AND PRESENT HAVE BEEN COVERED. CONSEQUENTLY THE TEACHERS KNOW VERY

WELL THAT THE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING THE PAST AS WELL AS HOW TO

AVOID A REPETITION IN FUTURE. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR MINISTERS TO GIVE THE VISITORS ANY ENCOURAGEMENT OR TO SEE THEM, IF THE TWO TEACHERS ATTEMPT TO SEE MINISTERS OR OFFICIALS I SUGGEST THAT THEY

SHOULD BE ADVISED TO AWAIT THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE OF

ENQUIRY BEFORE PRESSING THEIR CASE FURTHER.

6. STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, I HOPE TO HAVE AN INTERIM

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE BY THE END OF THIS WEEK RECOMMENDING" ARRANGEMENTS FOR PUPILS AND TEACHERS NEXT TERM.

7. A MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN IS TO HAVE THE

PRECIOUS BLOOD SCHOOL RE-OPENED BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR IN EARLY JULY. THE TEACHERS ARGUE THAT TO KEEP THE SCHOOL CLOSED WHILE THE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY IS SITTING IS TO PREJUDGE THE ISSUE. AS EXPLAINED IN MY TELNO 610 THE CLOSURE OF THE SCHOOL ON 14 MAY WAS A PRACTICAL NECESSITY BECAUSE OF THE ESCALATING DISRUPTION, WHICH HAD INVOLVED DEEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION OF THE PRINCIPAL AND OTHER TEACHERS. SINCE THE TEACHERS AND PUPILS STILL

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