The Education Bureau has abandoned its inquiry into a distance-learning centre that was offering courses from US universities without their permission, because the school has pulled its websites from the internet.
A South China Morning Post investigation last month revealed ICL Distance Learning was purporting to offer online courses from four genuine overseas universities without their permission, one unlicensed US university and another in Panama that does not exist.
The bureau launched a probe into the centre as a result of the Post's investigation, saying it would take 'appropriate action' if it found misleading information on ICL's website.
'The website doesn't exist anymore. It is no longer active,' a bureau spokeswoman said. 'We no longer have any basis to continue our investigation. We need to have evidence before we can proceed further.'
She said the bureau had been unable to contact anyone in charge of ICL or its parent company, In-Com Link Management.
