A rights group has expressed concern that measures for teaching Chinese to ethnic minority students could suffer a setback as a result of a 'sudden' change in senior personnel at the Education Bureau.
Former deputy secretary for education Bernadette Linn Hon-ho was replaced this week by Mable Chan, formerly permanent assistant secretary for infrastructure and research support.
Fermi Wong Wai-fun, director of rights group Unison, said she was worried the reshuffle could mean the bureau's focus might shift away from non-Chinese-speaking students' needs.
'Bernadette Linn has been handling this issue for several years now, and just recently we really feel we have been making good progress,' Ms Wong said. 'We are very concerned that things will take a step backwards while the new official gets up to speed.
'It has happened in the past that we have been negotiating with one officer and then their replacement put everything on hold because they were not familiar with the issue.'
She said it was crucial non-Chinese-speaking students' education was improved as soon as possible.
However, a bureau spokeswoman said there was no cause for concern as the transfer would not result in a shift in position. 'There wouldn't be a change in policy simply because of a staffing change,' she said.
