HONG KONG — A secondary school in Hong Kong has begun the new academic year without a permanent principal after its former head was dismissed over a viral confrontation with security guards during a student trip to Singapore.
San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun has already selected a candidate to replace former principal Lee Cheuk-hing, but the appointment remains subject to background checks by Hong Kong’s Education Bureau. In the meantime, the school’s deputy principal is serving as acting head.
The school year officially began on September 1, making the leadership vacancy an unusual backdrop to the start of classes. Hong Kong’s Education Bureau said it had reminded the school to follow the required recruitment procedures and make appropriate administrative arrangements so that normal operations and students’ wellbeing would not be affected.
How the controversy began
The leadership crisis stems from an incident during a school exchange trip to Singapore on May 22, 2026.
Video footage circulated online showing Lee involved in a heated confrontation with two security guards over a dispute involving the school’s tour bus. The footage showed him shouting and using vulgar language toward the guards.
The incident prompted Singapore police to investigate after a report was filed, while Hong Kong education authorities demanded a detailed report from the school and said they would consider professional-conduct issues if a teacher was found to have breached relevant standards.
The school initially suspended Lee while the incident was investigated.
Principal ultimately dismissed
Lee later apologised for his conduct and said he regretted losing his temper. He also maintained that he had intervened because he was concerned about the safety of students during the dispute.
The school board ultimately rejected his resignation and dismissed him with immediate effect on June 3, removing him from his duties without compensation. Lee subsequently said he was shocked by the decision and indicated that he would seek legal advice regarding his employment rights.
The school’s management said his behaviour fell below the standards expected of a principal and that allowing him to remain in the position would disrupt the school’s operations and prevent staff and students from moving forward.
Replacement has been selected—but not approved
The school began looking for a replacement earlier this year and has now selected one candidate.
However, the Education Bureau is still conducting its vetting process.
School manager and former lawmaker Edmund Wong Chun-sek said the school had completed its recruitment process and hoped the new principal could take over as soon as possible. He noted that the Education Bureau had previously taken about three months to vet a principal appointment.
Until approval is completed, the deputy principal will continue to oversee the school.
Wong stressed that the absence of a permanent principal would not prevent the school from functioning normally and said teachers and the school’s management team remained aligned.
Education Bureau urges school to keep operations running
The Education Bureau has not indicated that the leadership vacancy itself poses a threat to the school’s operation.
Instead, officials told SCMP that the school had been reminded to strictly follow the required procedures and take appropriate administrative measures to ensure that school operations are not disrupted and students’ wellbeing remains protected.
The timing is nevertheless notable because the leadership issue comes as students return for a new academic year.
Hong Kong’s Education Bureau separately issued guidance for schools ahead of September 1, urging parents and students to monitor weather and traffic conditions because of unstable weather associated with the remnants of Typhoon Saudel.
A controversy that has continued for months
What began as a confrontation during a school trip has evolved into a much broader discussion about professional conduct among educators.
The case attracted significant attention after video of the confrontation spread online. The Education Bureau had warned that if a teacher was found to have violated professional conduct requirements, it could review the individual’s teacher registration and take appropriate action depending on the seriousness of the case.
Lee’s dismissal also prompted him to consider legal avenues over his employment, although that is separate from the school’s current search for his replacement.
For now, the school is moving into the new academic year under temporary leadership.
The bigger question is when the Education Bureau will complete its vetting—and when the school will finally have a permanent principal back at the helm.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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