‘Talented’ Hong Kong teacher convicted of assaulting 10-year-old dyslexic student
Ng Cho-yee, 35, was given 80 hours of community service by the court on Thursday for two counts of common assault
A primary school teacher who assaulted a 10-year-old dyslexic student twice for failing to submit assignments has been given 80 hours of community service.
Fanling Court heard Ng Cho-yee, 35, twice put his hands around the boy’s neck and on one occasion pulled his shirt before he kicked a desk and chair at Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School in Tung Chung in 2014. He was convicted of two counts of common assault.
Deputy magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man condemned the assault as serious, and one that breached teachers’ responsibility.
“Parents hand over the students to teachers, expecting the teachers to take good care of them,” she said yesterday.
But in passing sentence, she accepted defence mitigation that it was an isolated incident in 13 years of “excellent teaching performance” and there was a low risk of Ng reoffending.
“This incident was inconsistent with his personality,” Wat said. “[The defendant] comes from a background of high academic qualifications and has demonstrated excellent teaching performance. He could be described as society’s rare talent.”