A supervisor of a preschool in Sheung Shui was arrested by police for allegedly forging government documents to mislead parents after the Education Bureau found its operations and finances failed to meet standards.
The Bilok Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten on Lung Sum Avenue was told by the bureau last month that from the 2023/24 school year, it no longer qualifies for the Kindergarten Education Scheme, under which subsidies are granted to kindergartens and pupils.
The bureau added students already attending the school or who were accepted before August 15 could still enjoy government subsidies until graduation.
Some parents yesterday said they were taken aback by the latest incident, while some parents said the school has not yet given textbooks to students, despite having paid more than HK$3,000 for them.
"The kindergarten said it's experiencing financial problems, but it didn't tell us that anyone had been arrested," said a mother surnamed Tsang, whose son is a K3 student at the Lung Sum kindergarten branch.
"Now I'm really worried and scared because my children are in senior classes. It could be difficult trying to find another kindergarten."
Another mother Chan said she has decided to transfer to a new school this week: "They charged us the school fee, but the meals they provided were different from what they claimed."
The subsidized Bilok Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten and its private branch in Sheung Shui Center yesterday continued classes, but a staff of both schools told reporters their principals were absent and unavailable for interviews.
A notice put up outside the Lung Sum Avenue branch yesterday accused the media of reporting misleading information, and stressing that the kindergarten would reserve the right to take legal action.
It is understood that the school's 66-year-old supervisor Cheung Lai-wah was released on bail on Wednesday - two days after her arrest, and has to report to the police in late October.
Police said on Wednesday night that they received a report on Monday, that Cheung was accused of tampering with official correspondence addressed to parents.
Upon further investigation, officers arrested Cheung in Tai Po on the same day.
Officers also searched the kindergarten on Lung Sum Avenue, its other branch in Sheung Shui Centre, as well as another kindergarten in Chai Wan, and seized some computers.
It is understood that the Education Bureau had sent a warning letter to Cheung to urge the school to improve its finances and operations.
Cheung then allegedly forged the letters and lied to parents that all issues had been solved. She also told parents that the school would operate as usual.
The Sheung Shui Centre branch did not participate in the Kindergarten Education Scheme and is being sued by the landlord for unsettled rent.
Replying to media inquiries, the Education Bureau said the police investigation is ongoing, refusing to comment further.
