Complaint against school received months before teacher’s death but case referred back to campus committee, Hong Kong education chief admits

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung defends move by bureau not to directly intervene and explains why school committee was roped in instead

Professional Teachers’ Union condemns authorities for not being proactive and calls for review of system

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The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union meets the press over the case of a death of a teacher and member. (From left) secondary school physical education teacher Sun Kwok-yu; former principal Lee Fu-sing; union president Fung Wai-wah; Education University senior lecturer Chong Yiu-kwong; and primary school teacher Wong Mo-yee. Photo: Tory Ho

Published: 9:50am, 14 Mar 2019Updated: 4:03pm, 14 Mar 2019

Hong Kong’s education minister has confirmed that authorities received a complaint against a primary school months before a teacher there fell to her death.

On Wednesday, Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung admitted that instead of launching an investigation, the case was referred to the school’s committee for follow-up.

Yeung was responding to media questions relating to the death of Lam Lai-tong, 48, a Chinese and library studies teacher at TWGHs Leo Tung-hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai last Wednesday.

TWGHs Leo Tung-hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai. Photo: Handout

Lam, who had worked at the school for more than 20 years, was said to be under extreme stress and made to work while she was unwell just before her death. She fell from a six-storey campus building.

School principal Law Yuen-yee has been on leave since the incident and could not be reached for comment. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, which runs the school, has set up an investigative panel.