I did not use the word 'fire', says Fanny Law

Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, former permanent secretary for education and manpower, yesterday switched from saying 'no recollection' to a definite 'no' when asked if she told a long-time friend to fire a Hong Kong Institute of Education lecturer.

Benjamin Yu SC, counsel for the commission of inquiry into alleged government interference in the institute's internal affairs, said Mrs Law had testified on Wednesday she did not remember asking Magdalena Mok Mo-ching during a phone call in December 2003 to fire then-lecturer Ip Kin-yuen for writing articles criticising education policies.

'But you cannot say you have not used the word 'fire'?' Mr Yu asked.

'I am mindful that I should not put myself to a position of agreeing with [Professor Mok] if I have no recollection of saying that,' she replied.

Professor Mok, who was principal lecturer in the department of educational psychology, counselling and learning needs at the HKIEd, has testified she told Mrs Law she was in no position to fire Mr Ip because they were in different departments.

Mr Yu asked Mrs Law to accept that she might sometimes regret things she had said without having properly thought them through. He reminded her of the incident in January 2006 when she denied the education reforms had led to the suicide of two teachers.