Teachers' 'moral conduct' bans likely to be for life

Education Secretary Christine Choi said on Tuesday that teachers banned from the classroom for breaking the National Security Law or for mistreating pupils are unlikely ever to be allowed to return to the profession.Appearing on an RTHK programme, Choi said new guidelines on teacher conduct would be released by the end of this year, setting out what is considered "fit and proper" for educators. She said whether teachers would receive a warning or face being struck off the register would depend on the circumstances of each case.The minister said a task force would be set up to decide whether struck-off teachers could be allowed to return to the profession after showing improvement, but those whose disqualification was down to "poor moral conduct" were unlikely to be allowed back. "If it's regarding their professional ability as a teacher, they can take some courses to prove themselves. But if they are involved in cases regarding poor moral conduct or they have caused damage to students, it's difficult for them to prove that they are suitable to be teachers again," she said.Choi stressed that the authorities wanted to protect pupils from being bullied or insulted by teachers. Asked about Monday's announcement that a requirement teachers to pass a test on the Basic Law and the National Security would be expanded, Choi said that even teachers whose subjects did not directly involve such matters should have this "basic knowledge".Teachers taking up jobs at public schools have had to take the test from this school year, but the rule will be expanded in the next school year to new teachers at government-funded schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, as well as at kindergartens covered by the kindergarten education scheme.

2022-10-25 11:57:34

Oct 23: burning the CCP flag in front of Chinese Consolate during the protest.

The stock markets have reacted to Xi Jinping having a third term.
https://publielectoral.lat/hongkongfp/15580

Team of journalists resigned after SCMP axed 3-part series on Xinjiang abuses, ex-editor says

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/team-of-journalists-resigned-after-scmp-axed-3-part-series-on-xinjiang-abuses-ex-editor-says/

Deregistered Hong Kong educators may be able to teach again, but not those ousted over ‘ethics’ issues, official says

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/deregistered-hong-kong-educators-may-be-able-to-teach-again-but-not-those-ousted-over-ethics-issues-official-says/

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai found guilty of fraud over use of Apple Daily’s headquarters

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/breaking-hong-kong-media-tycoon-jimmy-lai-found-guilty-of-fraud-over-use-of-apple-dailys-headquarters/

Screening of Taiwanese documentary axed at Hong Kong film festival after censors request removal of protest scenes

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/screening-of-taiwanese-documentary-axed-at-hong-kong-film-festival-after-censors-request-removal-of-protest-scenes/

BREAKING: Hong Kong amends Covid-19 law to allow invalidation of jab exemptions, days after losing court case

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/breaking-hong-kong-amends-covid-19-law-to-allow-invalidation-of-jab-exemptions-days-after-losing-court-case/

Jimmy Lai found guilty of fraud over lease breach

Tycoon Jimmy Lai was found guilty on Tuesday of two counts of fraud after a court ruled that he concealed the fact he was operating a consultancy from the headquarters of his Next Digital media empire from the landlord, in breach of a favourable lease.District Court Judge Stanley Chan said Lai's actions in allowing Dico Consultants to operate from the building on the Tseung Kwan O industrial estate went beyond a mere civil breach of the rental contract with landlord the Science & Technology Parks Corporation.The lease from the government-owned corporation was provided for the specific purposes of printing and publishing. Dico operated there for two periods, between 1998 and 2015, then from 2016 to 2020.The judge rejected an argument from Lai's counsel that the breach did not represent a criminal offence, using as a parallel a hypothetical case in which a civil servant could be charged with fraud if he concealed the fact that he had been bankrupt when applying for a loan.Chan also rejected Lai's argument that Dico took up only a small space in the headquarters and that its presence did not change the overall use of the building. The judge also noted that Dico was the only company operating in the building without a licence from the landlord, saying Lai had a responsibility to seek a permit from the landlord no matter how little space it took up. He said he accepted that Lai was a smart businessman who managed numerous companies, but said that did not mean he could shrug off his responsibilities.Chan also noted that while Dico Consultants had provided support for the operations of Next Digital, it had mainly handled personal affairs for Lai and his family members.A former executive of Next Digital, Wong Wai-keung, was convicted of one fraud count over the same offence. They will be sentenced at a later date.Lai is serving a 20-month jail term on unauthorised assembly charges.

2022-10-25 17:40:27 (1)

I remember there were people arguing that relying on China can ensure economic growth. But those people don't understand that without press freedom and rule of law, there wouldn't be an economy at all.


Hong Kong’s John Lee says ‘resilient’ stock market systems in place as Hang Seng Index falls to 13-year low https://app.hongkongfp.com/2022/10/25/hong-kongs-john-lee-says-resilient-stock-market-systems-in-place-as-hang-seng-index-falls-to-13-year-low/

Hong Kong civil servant jailed for 6 months over ‘seditious’ online posts

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/hong-kong-civil-servant-jailed-for-6-months-over-seditious-online-posts/

Hong Kong police arrest man under security law, 6 others on conspiracy to commit arson, money laundering charges

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/26/hong-kong-police-arrest-man-under-security-law-6-others-on-conspiracy-to-commit-arson-money-laundering-charges/