Hong Kong teachers cleared over leaking entrance exam questions to parents

TeachersTsangWing-shan(left)andWongPui-manwalkedfreefromcourt.Photo:DavidWong

(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST) FourHongKongprimaryschoolteachersaccusedofleakingquestionsonanentryexamwalkedfreeonThursdayfromatrialwhichmighthavearisenfromaninternaldisputeamongstaff.

ChengKa-yee,TsangWing-shan,andWongPui-man,fromChurchofChristinChinaHeepWohPrimarySchoolinPrinceEdward,burstintotearswhentheylearnedoftheiracquittalsatKowloonCityCourt.

AlsoacquittedwasTsang’sformerclassmateinuniversity,ULeng-kok,ateacheratanotherprimaryschool.

Thefour,agedbetween35and41,wereoriginallychargedwithobtainingaccesstoacomputerwithaviewtodishonestgain,inthattheyallegedlyleakedpicturesandcopiesofthequestionsconcernedviaWhatsAppandemailinJune2014.

TheChurchofChristinChinaHeepWohPrimarySchool,PrinceEdward.Photo:EdwardWong

Thequestionseventuallyfoundtheirwaytoparents,someofwhomhadaskedtheteacherstorefertheirkidstotheschool.

ButmagistrateVeronicaHeungShuk-hansaidonThursdayshecouldnotidentifyanydishonestyinvolvedandcastdoubtonthetestimonygivenbyHeepWo’sseniorschoolpromotionalofficer,ChongWai-chu,aprosecutionwitness.

Leavingcourt,Tsang,whohasbeensuspendedalongsidetheotherteachers,alludedtotheconflictwhichmighthaveburstintotheopenthroughthecase.

Shesaid:“Ithinkthemostinnocentonesarethestudents.Fromthestartuntiltheend,[theallegationshave]alwaysbeenfromthatridiculousteacher.”

Withoutnaminganynames,shesaidthecourthadalreadygivenawaywhothepersonwas.

HercommentscameshortlyafterthemagistrateexplainedindetailwhyshethoughtChongmighthavefailedtowarnthedefendantsofconfidentialityissuesraisedbysendingoutthequestions.

ChonghadinsistedincourtsherepeatedthewarningsatabriefingsessiononJune132014,thoughHeungsaidonThursdayshedoubtedthat.

Theleakedquestionseventuallyfoundtheirwaytoparents.Photo:EdwardWong

Outsidecourt,Tsangsaidshehadbeenpickedonbyanunnamedvice-principal,whichtheprincipaladmitted.

Shealsosaidshewasnotawarethequestionssheleaked,designedsolelybyChong,wereintendedfortheeventualexam,becauseChonghadnevershownthemtoanyschoolpanelsortheprincipal.

Themagistrateruledthatalthoughsomeofthedefendantstookpicturesofthequestionsatthebriefing,theydidnotdoitstealthily–inconsistentwiththechargeofdishonestintent.

WhenChongsuspectedChengtookpicturesatthebriefing,however,shedidnotstopher,Heungnoted.

HeungalsosaiditmatchedwhatTsangtoldtheofficersofIndependentCommissionAgainstCorruptionthatshetookpicturesofthequestionsbecauseshewantedtosharewithWong,whomightnotbeabletomakeittothebriefingthatday.

ThecourtheardearlierafterreceivingTsang’sphotos,Wongtypedthequestionsupandsentittoothers,includingbacktoTsang.

ButHeungrefusedtograntcoststoCheng,TsangandWong,sayingthattheydrewsuspicionuponthemselves.