bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Steve Cray

It was the ending everyone was waiting for; the story about who would stay and who would go. There had been alleged threats and betrayals. Professors claimed they were under attack. There was the ministry, with its 'king' and loyal deputy. Finally it was published, revealing one of the characters to have been found wanting. She went.

Sitting in the snug of the Foreign Correspondents' Club bar on  Harry Potter weekend, former president of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) Paul Morris smiled at the thought that the  report of the 39-day, HK$25 million commission of inquiry into allegations of government interference in the institute's  affairs had the hallmark of a great work of fiction.

Nursing a pint of beer, Professor Morris, 56, was looking relaxed for the first time in months. 'Well, it's probably an illustration of that adage that real life is sort of stranger than fiction,' he said.

Barely a week after he resigned as HKIEd president, Professor Morris was reflecting for the first time on the events that led to the inquiry, his gruelling seven days on the witness stand and the outcome.

All four key players in the inquiry have now left the posts they held during the hearings.

Former secretary for education and manpower Arthur Li Kwok-cheung  ('King Arthur' as he was described at one time in the hearings) was cleared of two of the inquiry's three allegations - that  he tried to force the institute to merge with Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and that he warned former institute academic vice-president Bernard Luk Hung-kay  that the institute would have   'to pay' for failing to condemn teacher protests.

His credibility as a witness, however, was questioned by the commission.  Professor Li was replaced by Michael Suen Ming-yeung  in Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's 'cabinet' reshuffle.

Professor Li's then deputy, former permanent secretary for education and manpower, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun,  was found wanting on part of the third allegation, that she tried to get academics sacked or silenced for criticising the government's education reforms. She resigned from her post as commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Professor Luk, the man whose allegations in a 10,000-character essay on the HKIEd's intranet in February led to the inquiry, has since returned to Canada to teach.

Professor Morris, whose contract was not renewed by the HKIEd council in January and was due to leave in September, has resigned to take up a chair professorship at the Institute of Education in London. He starts in October.

Professor Morris said the issues that led to the inquiry had 'defined' his five years as president. 'It was a lot of things channelling into the same avenue,' he said. 'Why did it happen? One thing was that Arthur Li said publicly that Shue Yan College  was going to be a university and HKIEd wasn't. That got the staff and students upset. Secondly, you have the exercise of my non-reappointment, which was very crudely handled. That got Bernard upset. He thought the council was playing cheap games to undermine me, which led him to write his essay. That was reported in the press. Questions were raised at the time when a chief executive election was going on.  Then Legco began to call for an inquiry and international academics were asking questions. My take on this is that a quick way to dampen it all down was to create a commission of inquiry.'

Professor Morris said  Mrs Law's requests to silence dissenting staff and Professor Li's alleged pressure to merge with the CUHK had dominated his five years as president. The 'dissension' issue started with staff criticising education reforms and backing small-class teaching.

Professor Morris said that when Mrs Law phoned to attempt to silence critics  - including former HKIEd lecturer Ip Kin-yuen  and Professor Cheng Yin-cheong  - he was robust in his response.

'I told her, unless their views were immoral or illegal I suggest you either speak to them directly or write in to oppose them, use the media or something. If you want to speak to them, feel free. I'm certainly not going to put any pressure on my colleagues.'

Although the commission doubted it had heard the whole truth, Professor Morris said he thought Mrs Law had come  closest to telling it, and she had  paid the price.

The inquiry heard it was the merger issue that had led to council chairman Thomas Leung Kwok-fai  allegedly warning him that unless he accepted the proposal his contract would not be renewed.

Professor Morris said the disagreement started in 2002 after  a meeting at the Jockey Club with Professor Li soon after he took up the post of secretary for education and manpower. He said he was made an offer to head a super teacher training department under CUHK, which he later rejected.

'The plan was based on a combination of things. One was that if HKIEd was to become part of CUHK it would save resources, then there was the idea that we'd attract better students if we became a part of CUHK, which I always thought was a very marginal argument. We've seen that the joint programmes we do with CUHK  and other places don't attract stronger students than our own programmes.'

With Professor Li allegedly threatening HKIEd with 'rape' if it didn't merge - the inquiry found that he 'more likely than not' used the word - and Dr Leung warning the institute would die 'from a thousand cuts' if it failed to do so, Professor Morris said a bad situation was becoming worse.

He said an original five-member council sub-committee appointed to review his contract was effectively whittled down to three after the group voted to marginalise the role of two internal council members, and alleged that the race issue  was played up to paint a negative image of him. 'The council decreed there be five members on the committee to review me, then they effectively excluded two internal ones. The legal question is can  those five have a vote among themselves to marginalise two? That's what happened. That's extremely dubious.

'The first report on me was very crude. The race card was played extensively. When that report was written it divided up comments by using phrases like 'local staff said' and 'expat staff said'. If I did a report on a colleague like that I'd be pilloried. Having been in Hong Kong for 31 years, I can tell you there are far less problems at HKIEd than other places I have worked in. I think it was played up for all it was worth.'

Professor Morris said he rejected criticism that he had developed 'a siege mentality', was 'oversensitive' or 'paranoid' and a finding in the report that  'vengefulness and other negative emotions were likely to have factored into the allegations'.

'The commission did make a lot of that but it also had a paragraph that said it was understandable for us to believe the bureau was out to undermine us with attempts to delay the institutional review [to gain self-accrediting status] and everything else that had gone on.  If you put that together with the 'rape' threat, wouldn't you be a  bit sensitive?'

Despite the comments, the report also found  Professor Morris to be a 'generally honest' and 'truthful' witness.

Professor Morris said reducing the quota of student teachers for arts, music and PE in 2008-09 from 390 places to zero - a policy decision that was suddenly reversed during the inquiry - and the planned cut in student intake by 20 per cent in the 2009-2012 triennium were further evidence of the negative attitude towards HKIEd.   Another pressing factor was long-term governance. It was 'unacceptable' for the HKIEd council to have external members from competing institutions.

'We have members who work for other faculties of education, that's day-to-day competition for courses and programmes. The future is tendered courses and competitive programmes. It is unacceptable,'  he said.

As to the outcome and the  future, he said he was satisfied the commission had vindicated himself and Professor Luk by finding that academic freedom had been interfered with. The inquiry left him and Professor Luk looking at a HK$4 million to HK$5 million legal bill. He sold his flat to cover his share of the cost. But he said he preferred to focus on the people who supported the cause.

'I learned so much about people. What astonished me were the colleagues who stood up, like  Magdalena Mok Mo-ching [who testified against her old schoolfriend Fanny Law], who chose truth over friendship. It wasn't a function of education, status or position in the hierarchy. Some of my most junior staff were the ones who stood by me during the inquiry.'

Professor Morris said he didn't want to leave Hong Kong after 31 years and hadn't wanted it to 'end this way', but took heart from the fact that the inquiry had shown that Hong Kong respected the rule of law and that no one was above it. 'I can't think of any other Asian country where that could happen,' he said.



Time for a spell