ELIZABETH CHEUNG ELIZABETH.CHEUNG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Monday, 07 September, 2015, 10:52am
UPDATED : Monday, 07 September, 2015, 10:52am
Headmaster Ng Shun-cheong appealed to pupils to come forward with their problems. Photo: Dickson Lee
Classmates of an eight-year-old Hong Kong boy killed by his father in a murder-suicide were today urged to speak up when they have problems as counsellors set up support services at the his school.
Ng Shun-cheong, headmaster of Ng Clan’s Association Tai Pak Memorial School in Ma On Shan, this morning announced the death of Chan Sze-ho to pupils through the school’s public address system.
Sze-ho’s body, along with those of his 52-year-old father Chan Chun-hing and 10-year-old brother Sze-ming, were found on Saturday afternoon inside their 18th-floor apartment in Ma On Shan.
“We are extremely sad and sorrowful to hear the news [of Sze-ho’s death],” Ng said, reminding pupils to stay strong and tell trusted adults if they faced difficulties in life.
“We should use a positive attitude to face problems ... and talk to parents or teachers to seek help,” he said.
Ng’s five-minute announcement ended with a minute’s silence in memory of Sze-ho.
Chan Sze-ho at a school event in May last year. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Pupils were then asked to complete worksheets and write cards for Sze-ho in a 45-minute counselling session.
Ng said the school’s crisis handling group held a meeting from 8pm to 11pm on Saturday, when they received news of Sze-ho’s death.
An educational psychologist from the Education Bureau and 10 social workers from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups will be stationed at the school today to provide counselling.
“We will conduct an initial screening first and follow up with pupils for several days afterwards,” said Ms Lo, the psychologist from the bureau.
Sha Tin Public School, which was attended by Sze-ho’s brother Sze-ming, said in a statement this morning that its teachers and pupils were deeply saddened after learning of his death. The school’s crisis handling team notified pupils today. Social workers and an educational psychologist were providing counselling to pupils and parents.
Letters will also be issued today to ask parents to keep an eye on their children in the coming week if they are emotionally distressed, and notify the school if help is needed.
Meanwhile, a neighbour of the Chan family at Kam Nga House, Kam Ying Court said they kept to themselves.
“I have seen the father before but we never said hello ... the family was isolated and didn’t socialise much,” said Mr Chung, who has lived in the building for around 20 years.
“I do feel a bit uncomfortable, as the children were innocent,” he added.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1855917/classmates-hong-kong-boy-8-killed-father-murder-suicide
