TNAG-0798-FCO40-1002-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 77

* GR 1753

NORITY

CHOHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 070539 Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

AKK 280/1

RECEIVED IN HAU.STRY. 51 - 7 JUL 9978

DESK OFNC

INDEX

is

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.854 OF 7 JULY 78,

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.

PA

Action Ten

RE

36)

M.I.P.T.

70

TEXT OF INTERIM REPORT:

''ON 16TH MAY 1978, WE WERE APPOINTED BY YOUR EXCELLENCY TO BE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY WITH THE

FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE:

**HAVING REGARD TO THE CLOSURE OF PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR ON WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF A SIMILAR STATE OF AFFAIRS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

AS SCHOOLS OPEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, THE COMMITTEE SHOULD SUBMIT AN INTERIM REPORT BEFORE THE 1ST AUGUST 1978.''

2. UP TO THE 30TH JUNE 1978, THE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY HELD A TOTAL

OF SIXTY MEETINGS. WE INVITED PERSONS WHO ARE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE AFFAIR TO SUPPLY US, IN CONFIDENCE,

OUT WITH THEIR VIEWS AND INFORMATION. UP TO THE 30TH JUNE 1978, OF A TOTAL OF 460 INDIVIDUALS WHO RESPONDED TO OUR INVITATION, WE MET WITH 371 OF THEM. WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS NUMBERING 215 WERE

RECEIVED AND CONSIDERED.

3. IN INTERPRETING OUR TERMS OF REFERENCE, WE HAVE TAKEN THE

VIEW THAT WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF PAST EVENTS LEADING TO

THE CLOSURE OF THE SCHOOL, IT WOAD NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. WE ALSO FEEL THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE DO NOT PRECLUDE US FROM COMMENTING ON ANY RELEVANT· ISSUE AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THEREON.

4. IN THE COURSE OF OUR MEETINGS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT TO

FULFILL THE OBJECTIVE AS STATED IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE AIM OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL HAVE TO BE TWO-FOLD, NAMELY,

CONFIDENTIAL

(A) TO AVOID