HONG KONG – Lee Cheuk Hing, the principal of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School, has been fired following a viral incident in which he was filmed swearing at security guards during a school trip to Singapore in May.
The dismissal comes after the school’s management committee rejected Lee’s attempt to resign, stating that his continued presence would disrupt the institution’s operations.
The timeline of the disciplinary actions is as follows:
- May 26: Lee was suspended from his position.
- May 28: Lee tendered his resignation, with a proposed final day of August 31.
- June 3: The school rejected the resignation and requested his “immediate dismissal.”
The school’s management committee stated on June 3: “If he were to remain in office as principal before Aug 31, it would gravely disrupt the operation of the school and prevent the school’s teachers and students from moving forward as soon as possible. This constitutes the immediate dismissal of Mr Lee and the removal of all his duties at the school.”
The committee further noted that Lee’s “vulgar” behavior violated the professional code of conduct for teaching staff, emphasizing that the head of the institution is held to a higher standard by the public and parents. In Hong Kong, aided secondary schools such as San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School are expected to enforce internal discipline in line with the city’s Education Ordinance, which gives school management committees broad powers over staff appointments and dismissals.
Incident at SAFRA Jurong
The incident occurred during an economics and technology study tour to Singapore from May 20 to 24, which included approximately 35 students and several teachers. The trip was part of the school’s cross-border exposure programme intended to familiarize students with innovation, finance and regional development.
A viral video shows Lee standing in the doorway of a bus, arguing with two female security guards in SAFRA uniforms. When the guards instructed that the bus needed to move “behind,” Lee told them to “shut up” and directed several Cantonese swear words at them. The footage shows Lee making faces and taunting the guards to board the bus. When a woman attempted to pull him back to de-escalate the confrontation, Lee shouted at her to “get out of (his) way.”
The clip, widely shared on social media in both Hong Kong and Singapore, prompted questions from parents over the conduct of senior school leaders while supervising students overseas and whether clear protocols were in place for handling disputes with local authorities and contractors during official school activities.
Security and Safety Concerns
On May 30, the Union of Security Employees in Singapore issued a statement condemning the abuse of security officers. The union reported that it had visited SAFRA Jurong to support the officers involved.
According to the union, the guards were acting to ensure the safety of the students and other motorists during the evening peak hour.
“Their singular focus was to stop the children from alighting in an unsafe zone along a busy main road at evening peak hour and (to prevent) the line of 23 cars from having to go around the coach to make a sharp turn to enter the SAFRA driveway, which could lead to accidents,” the union stated.
The union added that despite the ordeal, the officers continued their duties with professionalism. It emphasized that security officers in Singapore should not be subjected to abuse while safeguarding lives and properties. In recent years, Singapore’s government has reinforced this expectation through measures such as the Private Security Industry Act, which sets out licensing and conduct standards for private security personnel.
Institutional Transition
Edmund Wong Chun-sek, the school’s manager and a former lawmaker, stated that the decision to terminate Lee’s employment was guided by the well-being and best interests of the students. He noted that the viral nature of the footage and the cross-border attention it received risked undermining confidence in the school’s leadership if Lee were to remain in post.
Wong said the management committee would review internal guidelines for overseas study tours, including staff training on interacting with host-country personnel and handling crowd and traffic instructions when students are boarding or alighting from coaches.
Regarding the search for a new principal, Wong stated: “I believe an isolated incident will not discourage dedicated, capable and aspiring educators from applying for this principalship.”
The school has now moved to fill the vacancy following the immediate removal of Lee’s duties, with acting leadership arrangements in place while the management committee conducts a formal recruitment process. The Education Bureau has been notified of the change in principalship, as required, and parents have been informed of the interim arrangements for school governance and student supervision.
