International Montessori School's future in doubt again over lease
Future of International Montessori School in doubt again as education chief says students from Tin Hau campus must move to Stanley
The future of an international primary school in Tin Hau was plunged into further doubt yesterday after the education minister said it was occupying the site only temporarily.
Eddie Ng Hak-kim's words stunned parents at the International Montessori School in Tin Hau. They said it had been made "crystal clear" that a site in Stanley given to the school was for expansion, not as an alternative to its existing premises.
The school's co-founders agreed, adding that they were still hopeful of securing a new lease at Tin Hau with the site's owner, the Construction Association. They were responding after Ng said the school had been given the vacant school building in Stanley as a permanent campus "with the premise that its Tin Hau site is not permanent".
Speaking as about 20 parents and four lawmakers demonstrated at government headquarters, calling on him to step into the lease talks, the minister said the government had no power to force the parties to sign a renewal.
He said his bureau would "do its best to offer assistance" if the school needed to "look for another temporary campus".
But he added: "If the [Tin Hau] site is no longer used for educational purposes, the government has the power to reclaim it."
The 12-year-old school moved to its present site - which houses 350 pupils - three years ago. Its lease expires in July.