Hong Kong primary school teacher driven to suicide by actions of principal, coroner rules
- Lam Lai-tong fell to her death at TWGHs Leo Tung-Hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai in 2019, after repeated run-ins with then headmistress Law Yuen-yee
- Coroner Monica Chow says the tragedy could have been prevented, and points to a failure in complaint mechanism with the school’s sponsoring body
A teacher at a Hong Kong primary school was driven to suicide by the actions of the principal who pressured her to resign, a coroner has said.
Lam Lai-tong fell to her death from a building at TWGHs Leo Tung-Hai Lee Primary School in Tin Shui Wai in 2019, after repeated run-ins with then headmistress Law Yuen-yee.
Coroner Monica Chow said the tragedy could have been prevented, and pointed to a failure in the complaint mechanism with the school’s sponsoring body, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, as well as lack of support and care from her colleagues, as a contributing factor.
Ruling the cause of death a suicide after a nine-day inquest, Chow urged authorities to ensure the school reformed its internal management, after 19 recommendations were raised at an independent inquiry held by the school’s management months after the 48-year-old’s death.
[Ms Lam] chose to take her life at the school, as she knew if she fell inside the campus, Madam Law’s career would be doomed. This incident could have been avoided
The inquiry, which was opened at the request of Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, revealed Lam had been subject to repeated blaming and shaming by Law.