Troubled school cuts British ties, eyes fresh start

Troubled international school Mount Kelly Hong Kong has told parents it is no longer related to Mount Kelly in the United Kingdom and will be renamed.

In a letter to parents, the school said that after the change in ownership to Lord Global Group last year, it will no longer be known as Mount Kelly HK and will be renamed. It did not say what the new name will be.

Mount Kelly HK has also cut ties with Mount Kelly UK last October.

The school offered to assist parents in seeking a new school for their children if they decide not to stay.

School supervisor Chen Jiner said Lord Global Group decided to change the school's name to cut ties with problems left behind by the former owners.

But she refused to say whether the school has applied to the Education Bureau for a name change.

The bureau's website shows the school is still registered as "Mount Kelly School Hong Kong."

Around 40 parents who bought bonds from the school complained that management did not pay them back amid its financial woes last year that included delays in paying staff salaries and the closure of its kindergarten section after failing to pay the rent. The school is said to be in debt of over HK$300 million.

A parent with HK$3 million in bonds slammed the school for trying to avoid refunds by blaming the problem on its former owners.

The parent said the school never notified them about the change in ownership and criticized the government for not supervising or taking any action.

The payments for the bonds were processed by the school's two former owning companies - Mount Kelly International Ltd, renamed as PM Education Operation Ltd, and Mount Kelly Foundation Ltd.

Both companies have entered liquidation procedures.

A spokesman from the school said the current owner is not involved in any bond transactions and suggested affected parties resort to legal recourse to resolve their disputes.

He said the institution is currently owned by Lord Global Group, which took over in mid-September last year.

He also said the school was surprised when it received communication from Mount Kelly School UK pointing out that cooperation with the Hong Kong school had ceased last October, adding the school is one of the victims of the former operator's problems.

pakhei.leung@singtaonewscorp.com