'On Thursday of last week, one student from Year 10 was withdrawn ... because he was responsible for a website posted on the internet which contained offensive references to members of our school and community.' The site contained 'swear words and generally objectionable material designed to distress, offend and target both individuals and groups of people', the message said. 'We will show no tolerance for people who feel that they can bring the respectable name of the college into disrepute, harm and vilify others or use public forums in immoral ways.'Two other boys were suspended for contributing to the forum. 'They were suspended because they could be identified,' said Clive, who agreed to talk to the Post after another boy called to complain about the expulsion.

Clive, who lives in Tai Po, said: 'People don't even get expelled for taking drugs in our school. Have I really done anything worse?' He claims other students posted criticisms of the school. 'People were coming on and bashing the school. They didn't like that so they punished me,' said Clive, who has built and operates his own web server.

He said he set up the forum in response to 'injustices' over the handling of an earlier incident he was involved in. He was accused of sexual harassment by taking 'obscene' and 'indecent' photographs of girls' legs beneath a classroom desk and of posting the pictures on the internet. Although he regrets his involvement, he said two friends took the pictures, a story corroborated by another student.

Clive denies posting the pictures - of girls wearing 'skorts', shorts with skirt fronts - on a website. He said he put them in a protected folder so the girls could access them, after they had asked to see them.

He was particularly upset that Mr Cottam raised the issue in assembly. 'He said, I quote: 'One boy had taken indecent photographs of girls with his camera phone and published them on the internet'. He did not mention my name but people thought he was talking about me, which he was. I was offended as everything he said was wrong. There was more than one boy. The pictures were not indecent and were not on the internet.'

Clive also claimed that teachers and the principal had not seen the photographs, even though he offered to show them.

Tim Hamlett, associate professor of journalism at Baptist University, said: 'This is a straightforward freedom of speech issue. Students should be entitled to exchange messages about their school, even if they are rude. They are kids, for goodness' sake. Of course some will be rude.'

Ricky Rand, the student's father, was surprised to receive a call from the principal saying his son could not return to school. 'I didn't think the website was particularly bad,' he said. 'The school's authority should be strong enough to withstand such challenges.'

Mr Rand said he was proud of how his son had behaved. 'He wrote letters to the girls and sincerely apologised, even though he didn't take the pictures.'

Mr Cottam said: 'In the best interests of the student, it would be inappropriate for the school to make any comment to a newspaper.'