[Retaliatory Education] Primary school principal suspected of coercing teacher into forging documents, teacher forced into early resignation after arrest

(01 Aug)One year ago, people feared that "reprisals at the right moment" on the one hand and, on the other, took to the streets to strike and protest despite their trepidation towards the authorities. A year later, the atmosphere of protest in society dampened. White terror silently followed after the passing of the Hong Kong national security law. "Reprisals at the right moment" quietly began.

The education profession was among the first to be affected. Working under great political pressure, teachers kept their guard up even after school hours. A single "sensitive" phrase, liking an online post that criticises the government or participating only once in a legal protest may be enough to cost them their jobs.

InMedia HK interviewed many teachers who received complaints, were suppressed by the school or were even dismissed because of their political stances. Neither secondary school liberal studies teachers, teaching assistants nor university professors can avoid this quandary. Under the national security law, what recourse do they have?

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Nine years ago, Rick Mok Tak-wai had just graduated from university. Full of enthusiasm, he obtained a position as a teaching assistant at Po Kok Primary School in Happy Valley. At first, he had a great relationship with the principal and was promoted to a teacher in two years. He was, then, further promoted to Panel Head of the Visual Arts Panel. Things were looking up. Unexpectedly, the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) movement showed him the school's true colours. After teaching his students about "eye flushing" after tear gas exposure, the principal heavily admonished him. After his arrest, the school's senior management coerced him into signing a "voluntary resignation letter", feigning that he had left before his arrest.

Formerly trusted colleagues are now strangers. The school building and the sloped path he took to work for many years still look familiar, but that only deepened his sense of dread.

Despite his fears, Mr Mok was the only interviewee willing to disclose his name in our Retaliatory Education interview series. We asked, why was he willing to speak out? "Many teachers bottle up their frustrations when encountering these issues because they have to consider their work prospects and families." He stressed that the consequence of speaking out was the difficulty in establishing one's career in education. "I don't expect anyone to hire me. Even though I'm still registered, it's over."

He said he was only standing up for justice.

Work performance initially appreciated, later requested to avoid political discussions

Mr Mok mentioned that he used to have a good relationship with Principal Kathy Chung Lai-kam. He began working there as a teaching assistant for two years but the principal appreciated his talent. She placed him in charge of decorating all the bulletin boards in school. He recounted a time when he was working on a rather high bulletin board, the principal made a point of telling him to be careful. He said it made him feel "very warm", "my boss cared about me!"

Later, he was promoted to teaching mainly visual arts and liberal studies. He took this as an opportunity to add new elements like a campus beautification project and an artist workshop. In three years, the school breathed life into him. He was further promoted to Panel Head of the Visual Arts Panel. "The principal was delighted. I was learning and I was dedicated."

Nonetheless, Mr Mok felt vague shifts in the school over the last few years. The school authorities kept expanding classes. The arts and crafts classroom became a grade 6 classroom. Homework books overtook art spaces. Additionally, the principal's political stance grew more explicit: in the past two years, the school suddenly started hosting more Sister School Scheme exchange programs with mainland China. On multiple occasions, she explicitly or implicitly expressed that "not a single word [was] to be uttered" regarding political issues. During meetings, she emphasised the "expected impressions" that outsiders had towards teachers and, thus, told them to "be careful" on social media. "Don't give others any chance to threaten our school."

Reprimanded for teaching first aid eye flushing skills during liberal studies class, "You're provoking the students!"

Last October, the situation took a turn for the worse. Mr Mok admitted that he actively participated in protests and wore black in class daily. During the middle of the Anti-ELAB movement, the MTR frequently "shut their gates" because of the protests while the streets filled with the smell of tear gas. Mr Mok would occasionally use real-life examples when teaching liberal studies. One such instance was on the topic of traffic safety. He discussed the frequent MTR closures, explaining that it was due to vandalism and that the "station closures" were to ensure the public's safety. "I talk about these things because students can relate to them. They can't take the MTR."

As for the topic of first aid, Mr Mok used tear gas as an example and taught the students how to "flush eyes". He stressed that after discussing these kinds of topics, he would always add a disclaimer, telling students not to go onto the streets and to stay home to keep themselves safe.

The principal and vice principal Mimi Lok Hoi-yan learned of this soon after and summoned Mr Mok. "The principal was furious. It was the first time in nine years that I've seen her so angry that her veins were popping out. She was slamming her hands on the table and chair," he recalled. She reproached him for damaging the school's reputation and pointed her finger at him, "You're provoking the students! You're encouraging them to protest!" Mr Mok's face was full of indignation as he recounted the events and explained how he truly had no such intention. "I finish every discussion by telling the students not to go out, to stay safely at home and protect themselves... but these schools insist that it touches on what they claim to be politics. They won't even tolerate this. I'm so disappointed."

Arrested before decision to leave

Mr Mok had considered resigning for quite some time already. With his treasured arts and crafts classroom gone, should he stay at this politically biased school? Work had become hectic in recent years. After work, he would take his dog to the dog park while marking homework. His parents are growing old. It is getting harder to eat and move about. Should he not spend more time with them?

After mulling over the situation, the principal's reprimand reaffirmed his decision. The next day, he submitted his resignation letter and planned to leave at the end of the first semester. However, the vice principal persuaded him to leave at the end of the academic year in consideration for the students' wellbeing. Mr Mok ultimately agreed to push his resignation to the end of August.

Soon after, however, Mr Mok was arrested at the scene of a conflict. The vice principal saw his countenance on television and phoned his parents, asking, "Has your son come home? Did he call you?" After he was released on bail, Mr Mok called the vice principal, who only told him to take two days' sick leave. He told the principal about the incident, explaining that he was was not charged [with a crime] at the time. The principal's reaction was composed but stated that some alumni witnessed his arrest on television. The school would have to put him on duty "so that my face would be broadcast at school as a sign to the alumni that I was safe."

Formally prosecuted after six months, coerced into signing early resignation letter "severing ties"

Since his arrest, the school management director (Wayne Yip) took an active interest in his situation and asked about his future plans. At the time, Mr Mok was touched as it was rare to find a friend at school. The police unexpectedly arrived at his doorstep to arrest and prosecute Mr Mok this month. At the police station, he called Yip to ask if he could post bail for him. Yip, however, stated that this would implicate the school and that school authorities could not act on his behalf. In the end, Yip entrusted another friend to arrive at the police station and hand over the bail money.

A week later, Yip and the vice principal held a meeting with Mr Mok. They provided him with a laptop, paper and a pen. They told him, "You need to write two documents: a resignation letter dated 14 July (one day prior to his arrest) and a testimonial of your arrest." Completely bewildered and left full of questions, Mr Mok thought, "Today's meeting is on 22 July. Why do they want me to write a letter dated back on 14 July? Can time travel backwards?" The only explanation was that the school hoped that, through the letter, it could fabricate "evidence" of Mr Mok having no ties with the school since his arrest.

The two people also asked Mr Mok to write "waive salary in lieu of notice" in his pre-dated resignation letter and continually avoided answering his questions. They only emphasised, "We really want to help you. This is the best solution." In the end, Mr Mok was no match against their persuasion and he gradually softened up. "They'd talk and then ask, 'should we and our colleagues raise money to help you?' They likely aren't harming me, so I listened to them completely." The moment he decided to put pen to paper, his lawyer's assistant called by happenstance and informed him that this was an act of "document forgery" and that he must not sign any documents. Mr Mok, then, realised the gravity of the situation. He picked up his draft and quickly left.

Threatened with having registration revoked, barred from calling lawyer for 3 hours

That night, Yip sent Mr Mok a text message stating that the principal wanted to see him. Upon returning to school the next day, the principal and vice principal kept thanking him and then "did a 180". Again, they demanded that he write a pre-dated resignation letter and prevented him from calling his lawyer.

When Mr Mok recounted this story, he could not help imitating the principal's demeanour, wild gesticulations and shrill voice as he commanded him, "You're my employee! I demand that you write! You must immediately write in front of me!" He was so afraid that he kept his head down, avoiding the principal's gaze. He only ventured to ask softly, "Excuse me, principal. May I call my lawyer?" The principal persistently refused and handed him a set of guidelines, claiming that it was issued from the Education Bureau. It stated that if a teacher was arrested, they had to be immediately dismissed and their certificate of registration, revoked [1]. Mr Mok felt begrudged. He said he had never seen those guidelines nor had the school notified the teachers of them. Contrarily, the principal mocked him, "The Education Bureau has always had this. In fact, it's online. Haven't you seen it?"

The principal threatened, "If you're unwilling to write that you resigned on 14 July, I'll ask you to work every day until the 31st." Mr Mok did the math in his head. He was to appear in court in mid-August and did not have much time left. If he were to work every day, he would not have sufficient time to prepare for court, meet with his lawyer, etc. His emotions started to waver.

Mr Mok claimed that the principal and vice principal combined hard and soft tactics for over an hour. They asked Yip to push Mr Mok to complete the documents while stuck without access to his lawyer. Then, they left. Mr Mok eventually succumbed, wrote his pre-dated resignation letter and his testimonial of the arrest, and hurried away.

Avoiding school authorities in fear of further oppression

Afterwards, Yip stayed in touch with Mr Mok through various means. He even tried to meet up near where he lived but Mr Mok ignored him. Seeing "Director Yip" on the call display was sufficient cause for trepidation, Mr Mok claimed. The school finally sent the first two weeks of his wages for July to his bank account. It emailed him to return to the school on the pretence of recanting to his original proof of employment dated to end on 31 Aug; he could pick up the new one dated 14 July.

To avoid school authorities from knocking at his door, Mr Mok temporarily stayed at his friend's place. "I've been sleepless the past two nights. I'm scared that the school will come find me and use extreme methods to make me give in. I feel really oppressed." Our reporter originally intended to meet him near Po Kok Primary School for his interview. He proposed a different location, stating that he no longer dared to set foot near the building.

School authorities yet to respond to media inquiries, Apple Daily claims Mr Mok voluntarily wrote letter

Our reporter had emailed the school authorities to inquire about the incident and did not receive any response before the deadline of this publication. The school did not answer any of our phone calls. According to Apple Daily's report, principal Kathy Chung Lai-kam acknowledged that she met with Mr Mok on 23 Aug but denied allegations that he asked his lawyer for help. She also claimed that he voluntarily wrote his resignation letter. She stated that she would not respond in writing and that the surrounding allegations have caused harm to some of the staff. Chung also said that Mr Mok was currently still a school employee and his last day of work was 31 Aug. However, he declined all contact with the school and refused to pick up his new proof of employment, she claimed. She hoped that he would renew communication with the school.

[1] Our reporter found the relevant guidelines, which state: (xi) For cases of a serious nature, schools should refer to the situation described in the Code of Aid, and consider suspending the teacher concerned from his/her teaching duties or duties ; (xii) If a teacher is suspected to have committed any serious offence or act of misconduct, the school must report the case to the EDB for considering whether any further action is necessary, including reviewing the teacher registration status of the teacher concerned. 

[Source: https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/sch-admin/admin/about-sch-staff/appointment/EDBC20003E.pdf]

Source: Inmedia hk

https://bit.ly/2YC8KkS

Translated by: Hong Kong Echo