TNAG-0799-FCO40-1003-Dispute-over-closure-of-Precious-Blood-Golden-Jubilee-Second-1978 — Page 140

RAR

AIR MAIL

CONERENTIAL

AL Lar

2945

(38)

BY BAG

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

Ref: CR 13/2041/78 III

LAST PAPER

Dear Robin,

Lo Exelgune Envelope

HONG KONG.

November 1978

This will's Snow

Precious Blood Golden Jubilee

Secondary

School

me

Quartet NEA

кми

A. draft submummy 16 Card Garance R

£29/1

We promised in telegram number 1309 of 14 November to send you a copy of the Final Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School, which was published on 31 October. This is enclosed herewith. I am sorry I did not write earlier, but I wanted to be in a position to let you have an assessment of public reaction to the Report.

2.

The Committee has dealt in considerable detail in its Final Report with the circumstances of the dispute and its judgement and criticisms appear to be more balanced and even-handed, whereas the much briefer Interim Report gave the public an impression that the Committee held serious doubts about some of the crucial decisions taken by the Government. For example, the Committee accepts that the decision in May 1978 to close the school was justified in the circumstances (paragraphs 44-45). The Committee is sceptical of the claim that under its previous principal the school was a model of liberal and advanced methods of teaching (paragraph 11). It is critical of the behaviour of some of the dissident teachers and students (paragraphs 33 and 39). Its main criticisms of the Education Department are for failing to appreciate fully the seriousness of the dispute during the early stages and, in particular, the part played by the financial mis-management in aggravating feelings (paragraph 28), and thus for failing to play a mediatory or conciliatory role (paragraph 45).

3.

The Committee puts forward in paragraphs 50-57 of the Report various recommendations, designed to minimise the possibility of recurrence of a similar state of affairs. These recommendations include strengthening the Education Department in its capability to respond to grievances and to offer advice and guidance, and improving channels of communication in other ways too; reviewing the statutory and financial controls over aided schools; and increasing the training given to senior school staff in management and administration. The Committee has recommended also

R.T.J. McLaren, Esq.,

Hong Kong & General Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London SW1A 2AH, United Kingdom.

CONFIDENTIAL

/that

AKK 280/6

INDEX

سانا

ши Тами, 28