Outgoing ESF chairman Carlson Tong says only regret is losing government subsidy
Carlson Tong says he always asks himself if he could have done better
The outgoing English Schools Foundation (ESF) chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shing says his one regret is not being able to persuade the government to maintain its subsidy to the foundation.
Some parents still believe that if the foundation had declined the government's 2013 decision to phase out the subsidy - and stood with the parents to fight it - things may have been different.
Tong says for two years ESF had worked very hard negotiating with the government but was not getting anywhere, and the government would not discuss funding for rebuilding the Island School unless the foundation accepted the subsidy removal.
"After two years, it was clear that we couldn't move the government," he said. "I was pragmatic and settled for something which I think is in the best interest of [the stakeholders].
"I always ask myself, could I have done better?
"[Accepting the decision was] not the answer I was looking for initially, but sometimes you have to … compromise."
Without the subsidy, ESF has had to find other ways to fund renovation of its old school buildings, Tong said. That included charging parents a non-refundable one-off capital levy of up to HK$38,000 from this year, and allowing parents to buy "nomination rights" to give their children priority consideration during admission.