‘No academic stress here,’ Hong Kong school says after suicides of pupil, mother

A Hong Kong school recovering from the tragic suicides of a Primary Six pupil and her mother does not suffer from intense academic pressure, a student and the vice-principal have said, stressing that promotion to its secondary section is automatic.

Their remarks were made on Friday as an experienced psychologist advised against allowing surviving relatives to return home immediately after a family member died by suicide at the residence.

A woman, 48, took her own life on Wednesday following an argument with her 12-year-old daughter over an education-related matter.

The daughter was later assessed by hospital staff and cleared to return home with her father, but she subsequently jumped to her death the same day.

GT (Ellen Yeung) College in Tseung Kwan O, where the girl studied, saw students attending classes as usual. But the principal prevented reporters from approaching students, saying the school did not want to trigger their emotions.

Jacob, a Primary Six student in the same academic year as the girl, said he did not know her personally and did not experience academic pressure.