TNAG-0798-FCO40-1002-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 50

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Firmy Cortazzi

Cortes Her Collage

11/vii

Fi/tr Luand

Thinsh

2867

HKK 28

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 5T 13 JUL 1978

42

DESK INDIA

RES RY

PA

Action Ten

I ROBERT PARRY MP: PQ ON THE DI

JUBILEE SCHOOL

attatched

Flag A

NG THE CULLEN

1. I am sorry to say that as a result of our misinterpreting an ambiguously worded telegram from Hong Kong the reply given to one of Mr Parry's questions on 28 June was incorrect.

2.

3.

Mr Farry asked:

"if consultations are still taking place with the Professional Teachers Union concerning staff formerly employed at the Golden Jubilee Secondary School in Hong Kong.

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In their telegram suggesting how we should reply, Hong Kong said:

"The contractual relationship is between the teachers and the school management committee nominated by the Roman Catholic Bishop. We understand that represen- tatives of the 16 teachers involved in the dispute have met with representatives of the Bishop. The Professional Teachers Union has also had a meeting, while the 16 teachers have had three long meetings totalling 13 hours with the Committee of Inquiry".

4. We interpreted this to mean that the Professional Teachers Union had had a meeting with representatives of the Bishop. But it now transpires that the meeting referred to was with the Committee of Inquiry. I am afraid that our reply was further confused by a clerical error as a result of which the words

/"representatives of"