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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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School sacking 'trumped up'
A principal has accused the board of her secondary school of unlawful dismissal without any internal hearing being held, which she said violated the labor ordinance and code of assistance for special schools.
Wong Lai-ting, former principal of Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre Chan Nam Cheong Memorial School, sought help from the Labour Department yesterday, saying she was fired on Saturday, just two days after receiving a warning letter for being unable to "contain a public crisis" involving the school.
That crisis saw teachers holding a press conference on Thursday to accuse the school of misappropriating government funds, deliberately delaying staff reappointments and allowing the school board to take over decision-making.
Wong said: "The procedures of the termination were improper as no board members had met me after the dismissal." She added that the reasons given for the dismissal were vague and she suspected it was a "trumped-up accusation."
In the press conference arranged by the Hong Kong Education Workers Union, the teachers said they had received reports accusing the board of over interference in the school's employment procedures.
The school's sponsoring body, Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre, was accused of misappropriating more than HK$3 million in anti-epidemic fund assistance.
In the warning letter issued on Thursday, the board rebuked Wong for her "incompetence in leadership," with Wong required to respond within a week.
However, it then proceeded to dismiss her on Saturday, asserting that "more than half of the board members considered she could not satisfactorily carry out her duties as the principal."
In filing her complaint, Wong said: "I had received a warning letter from the school board on Thursday asking me to explain on the coming Thursday. However, I received the notice informing me of my dismissal without compensation on Saturday."
It is understood the board held a special meeting a day before issuing the letter to Wong concerning her performance as principal. The board said Wong ignored its instructions, leading to severe issues at the school, and accused her of providing false documents to the Education Bureau.
Wong said she may take her complaint to the Labour Tribunal.
Union chairman Wong Kin-ho questioned whether the dismissal was in line with proper procedures.
"I believe the board is retaliating against teachers and blocking them from participating in the union's activities," he said.
The Education Bureau has initiated investigations and said the school must ensure operations resume normally in the new academic year.
That crisis saw teachers holding a press conference on Thursday to accuse the school of misappropriating government funds, deliberately delaying staff reappointments and allowing the school board to take over decision-making.
Wong said: "The procedures of the termination were improper as no board members had met me after the dismissal." She added that the reasons given for the dismissal were vague and she suspected it was a "trumped-up accusation."
In the press conference arranged by the Hong Kong Education Workers Union, the teachers said they had received reports accusing the board of over interference in the school's employment procedures.
The school's sponsoring body, Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre, was accused of misappropriating more than HK$3 million in anti-epidemic fund assistance.
In the warning letter issued on Thursday, the board rebuked Wong for her "incompetence in leadership," with Wong required to respond within a week.
However, it then proceeded to dismiss her on Saturday, asserting that "more than half of the board members considered she could not satisfactorily carry out her duties as the principal."
In filing her complaint, Wong said: "I had received a warning letter from the school board on Thursday asking me to explain on the coming Thursday. However, I received the notice informing me of my dismissal without compensation on Saturday."
It is understood the board held a special meeting a day before issuing the letter to Wong concerning her performance as principal. The board said Wong ignored its instructions, leading to severe issues at the school, and accused her of providing false documents to the Education Bureau.
Wong said she may take her complaint to the Labour Tribunal.
Union chairman Wong Kin-ho questioned whether the dismissal was in line with proper procedures.
"I believe the board is retaliating against teachers and blocking them from participating in the union's activities," he said.
The Education Bureau has initiated investigations and said the school must ensure operations resume normally in the new academic year.
