Emergency procedures for schools to be reviewed following tragedy of 10-year-old pupil

The Education Bureau will review guidelines for schools in handling emergencies after staff at a primary in Kwai Chung where a 10-year-old girl fell to her death failed to call 999 right away.

Staff at CCC Kei Chun Primary School instead called paramedic St John Ambulance. The school was found to have instructed staff members not to call 999 for "non-emergency matters".

A coroner yesterday slammed two vice-principals, who tried to played down the seriousness of the girl's injury, for lying.

The coroner ruled on Thursday that the girl fell to her death from a stairwell linking the fifth and sixth floors on December 9, 2013. But he was unable to determine whether she had committed suicide or fallen by accident due to a lack of evidence.

Some educators and school operators said many schools preferred not to call the police or the Fire Department when emergencies arose because they feared that media could listen to police scanners and the subsequent media coverage would damage the schools' reputation.

The Education Bureau's guidelines for schools dealing with emergencies do not specify that schools should call 999.

A bureau spokeswoman said yesterday it would review the guidelines based on the coroner's ruling and suggestions.