TNAG-0798-FCO40-1002-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 33

HKK 280/1

RATOIVED IN REGISTRY/PO. 51 19 JUL 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

RA "RY

Action Tamen

233-4381

एब्ध

RC Jones Esq

Private Secretary

Department of Education and Science

Elizabeth House

York koad

རྟེ! ་

LONDON SE1 7PH

Original t: HKK 026/10

This Copy for:

Information only; Action on Para(s)

19 July 1978

50

HONG KONG PRECIOUS BLOOL GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL

1. When we spoke last week, I promised to let you have further background on the controversy over the closure of the above named school before you left for China and Ilong Kong (your letter of 13 July to Margaret Turner refers).

Instead,

2. 1 attach a copy of the background note which we prepared for Evan Luard when he answered 11 Farliamentary Questions about this controversy last month. Since then,

Since then, the Committee of Inquiry has presented an interim report, which was published on 14 July. The report does not try to apportion blame for the dispute. it concentrates on proposing a way out of the impasse that had been reached. The report proposes that, in addition to the new school that will be opened in the old premises of the Golden Jubilee School, a second school should be set up, with a new Management Committee, which would offer these for

upils who por a system of education similar to that in the Golden Jubilee School under its original principal. The Management Committee has been asked to consider employing the teachers from the Golden Jubilee School who are not being offered contracts in the other school.

3. The Government of Hong Kong has indicated that they accept the Committee's recommendations. The new Management Committee has already been appointed, and suitable premises have been found for the second school. Certain other practical steps have also been taken to facilitate the opening of the new school in September. The initial reaction of the two representatives of the dissident teachers who were in London and who have now returned to liong Kong, was that they found the report encouraging and hoped that they could now work together with the Department of Education to make the proposed compromise work. We do not know yet whether their colleagues in Hong Kong will be taking the same attitude, although initial indications are promising. I shall send you a telegram via the Embassy in Peking if this problem looks like still being a live issue when Mrs Williams arrives in Hong Kong.

cc: Miss Margaret Turner

FCO

WE Quantrill

Hong Kong & General Dept