The civil service's most senior educator is learning to talk tough, no doubt to prepare to take over what may be the toughest assignment in her career: the top post at the ICAC. So far, Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun has neither confirmed nor denied a rumoured job swap with Raymond Wong Hung-chiu, the man now heading the Independent Commission Against Corruption. But perhaps it is Mr Wong who is getting the tougher job. After all, Mrs Law in January managed to provoke the first mass demonstration in recent memory by teachers, who were infuriated by her remarks that the government's education reforms could not have caused too much stress because so few teachers had committed suicide. On Thursday Mrs Law was swamped by reporters outside a conference at City University, when she was asked about her possible new job title. 'Mrs Law, will this be your last public appearance as permanent secretary?' a reporter asked after pursuing her to a back door on the Kowloon City campus. 'Little boy, try not to talk nonsense,' an irritated Mrs Law shot back. Come to think of it, wouldn't that be a good line to use while interrogating suspects in corruption cases?
