Parents to face trial for school absence

A couple will face trial next month for taking their son out of school over disputed field-trip fees, after they failed to comply with an order requiring the wife to promise not to prevent the boy from attending school.

Pun Chi-fai, 49, and Leung Suk-fong, 51, who reaffirmed their pleas of not guilty to failing to comply with an attendance order yesterday at Fanling Court, will stand trial on September 16.

At Pun's request, another magistrate will hear the case in place of presiding magistrate Symon Wong Yu-wing. Pun said Mr Wong had criticised his attitude and appeared to have overlooked the merit of their defence arguments.

Mr Wong also expressed concern that the case would drag on, noting that the boy was due to return to school next month.

Pun and Leung, who previously appeared without lawyers, obtained free legal representation from the government's duty lawyer service yesterday.

Leung, the nine-year-old boy's mother, initially agreed to be bound over for HK$2,000 on the condition that she promise to allow the boy to go to school and admit some facts about her case. In exchange, the prosecuting counsel said it would offer no evidence against her.

Leung, however, asked Mr Wong: 'What is the meaning of 'promise'?' She said even if she allowed her son to attend school, Pun would stop him.