Education chief Christine Choi’s response came after weeks of concern and online petitions demanding transparency about the teen.
St Paul’s College has confirmed one of its Form Five students died during a school trip to the mainland. Photo: Bobby LeeOn Sunday, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said a government investigation had found that the death of a Hong Kong teenager on an exchange trip to mainland China was unrelated to his school tour.
The education chief responded after weeks of concern and online petitions demanding transparency from the school about the tragedy.
The death of the St Paul’s College student during a trip to Hangzhou in Zhejiang province sparked widespread discussion. Some called for disclosing details and adopting measures to prevent the repeat of such a tragedy.
When Choi was asked at an event whether her bureau would explain the matter further, she said: “The investigation has concluded and has proven that [his death] was unrelated to exchange activity.”
St Paul’s College confirmed on March 1 that one of its Form Five students died during the trip. The school made its Facebook page’s cover photo black as a sign of mourning.
Multiple media outlets reported the student died by apparent suicide on February 28, but neither the bureau nor the school had disclosed the cause or date of his death, nor his age.
An alumni petition, which has gained significant traction online, demanded the school handle the matter “responsibly and transparently”. It also requested a reply on calls stating that measures should be adopted to prevent similar incidents.
College council chairman Arnold Cheng Cheuk-sang said in a letter circulating in the community online that it had been “frustrating and saddening to see inaccurate and malicious reports and discussions in the media – and on social media – speculating on and sensationalising the circumstances” of the student’s death.
He called for the privacy of the boy’s family to be respected.
Separately, Choi addressed a recent mass outbreak of gastroenteritis among Hong Kong students taking part in mainland exchange tours.
“Regarding … matters such as dining and transport arrangements, we place students’ health and safety as our top priority, which is why we have set up a dedicated team to follow up,” she said.
Choi had earlier said the students, who were on trips as part of their citizenship and social development curriculum, might have contracted the illness due to the recent humid weather, which might have caused bacteria to be transmitted more easily.
If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing them, help is available. In Hong Kong, you can dial 18111 for the government-run Mental Health Support Hotline.
You can also call +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.