Fasting headmaster vows to continue his protest if they are not satisfied On the second day of his hunger strike, Kin Tak Public School principal Fong Hon-kwong secured a promise from the education chief to meet parents and listen to their concerns over the village school's closure when classes end for the year. Education and Manpower Secretary Arthur Li Kwok-cheung said yesterday he would meet the parents if they could not reach a compromise with principal assistant secretary Lee Kwok-sung at a meeting today. Mr Fong began the hunger strike to demand a meeting between school parents and Professor Li and Permanent Secretary Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun. 'Village school problems are a very important education issue and it's high time Professor Li listens to views from schools and parents,' said legislator Cheung Man-kwong, who was also involved in the petition seeking a meeting with Professor Li. 'The [Education and Manpower Bureau] should learn a lesson and be more forthcoming in communicating with schools in the future.' Mr Fong said he would be watching today's meeting carefully and make sure that the bureau kept its promise. 'A hunger strike is no joke, and I do miss the taste of food,' he said. 'But I will only stop the hunger strike if parents are satisfied with the results of the meeting today or if Professor Li has fixed a date to meet with parents if today's meeting fails. 'It may look a bit extreme and stubborn, but difficult times call for desperate measures.' Sixteen village schools have been targeted for closure at the end of the school year because of declining student intakes. The students will be transferred to other schools in the districts where they live. Kin Tak Public School Parents' Association president Lau Yin Ting-yuk said parents were determined to have the closure fully explained and to find solutions to where their children would be placed for the next school year. About half of the parents of 30 students affected are expected to turn up at the meeting this afternoon. 'We are grateful for the efforts Mr Fong has made,' Mrs Lau said.