Catholic primary school takes on 12 abode youngsters despite Government's legality warning

The row over an education ban on children seeking right of abode intensified yesterday when a school in North Point enrolled 12 youngsters despite official warnings that it could be in breach of the law.

The principal of the Catholic St Joan of Arc Primary School, Wong Kwan-ying, welcomed the new entrants and gave each a uniform and stationery. The children will start on Wednesday.

Registration will last until tomorrow and Ms Wong said the school planned to take up to 30 mainland children who had been denied an education as a result of the government ban.

Another private Catholic school, Ng Wah College in San Po Kong, will allow mainland pupils to register tomorrow. A spokeswoman for the school said it was following a call by Joseph Zen Ze-kuin, Coadjutor Bishop of the Catholic Diocese, and defying the government ban on enrolling abode seekers.

The children will be able to study after registration but will not be allowed to take public examinations until they had obtained right of abode, the spokeswoman said.

St Joan of Arc principal Ms Wong said the decision to offer places had the wide support of parents at the school. 'We have informed our parents' association and they are very happy with the decision. We think this is good moral education for our pupils,' she said.