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The following are the remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, at the meet-the-media session today (September 17) on the application for leave for Judicial Review on part of the findings of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to the Hong Kong Institute of Education:
"The Department of Justice will, on my behalf, apply later today for leave for Judicial Review on part of the findings of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
The Government needs to consult different stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of policies with a view to balancing the needs of different sectors of the community and ensuring that policies are aligned with the overall public interest. However, the commission concluded that direct contact of a senior government official with academic members of an educational institution to express his opinion on or to protest against the critical views of the academic members, even without any threat of sanction or reprisal, would constitute improper interference with academic freedom. That part of the findings is not only wrong in law and in principle, but would affect dealings between government officials and academic institutions in the formulation and implementation of education policies.
Having sought the advice of the Department of Justice, I consider it necessary to launch a judicial review on that part of the findings.
As legal proceedings are under way, it would not be appropriate for us to comment on issues or persons who may be the subject of the proceedings."
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, September 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:07
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