Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun yesterday expressed sorrow about allegations of government interference in the internal affairs of the Hong Kong Institute of Education. During her first day of testimony, Mrs Law said that she had given the teacher training college more support than she had any other tertiary institution. 'What I've learned from this inquiry is that sometimes people tend to overlook the positive side of things and dwell too much on the negatives and read too much into what may seem to be negative aspects ... without looking at the big picture. 'As far as the HKIEd is concerned, I would reckon that I have given the institute more support than I have given to any other tertiary institution in Hong Kong.' Mrs Law said she had fully supported the primary school established by the institute. She said she had discussed the model of trilingual education with other schools and even been criticised as being biased towards the institute's school. In front of a packed public gallery, Mrs Law strongly rejected allegations that she asked the institute's president, Paul Morris, to sack four academics who had criticised the government's education reforms. When her counsel Johnny Mok Shiu-luen SC asked for comment on the 'phenomenon' of the allegations, Mrs Law said: 'I really feel very sad to see all these allegations and extended allegations in this inquiry.' Mrs Law said that she thought many of the allegations arose from misunderstandings that could have been avoided if people had spoken to the other party immediately if they saw something was wrong. She said if that had happened, the 'misunderstandings and grievances' would not have 'accumulated to such an extent that we are here today'. As she tried to leave Immigration Tower, Mrs Law could not avoid a swarm of waiting media. Flashing cameras followed her into the lift, but she left without comment. Mrs Law returns to the witness stand today.
