HK principal who swore at S'pore security guards sues school for wrongful dismissal, seeks S$145,600 in damages

The Hong Kong secondary school principal who was fired after swearing at security guards in Singapore has filed a lawsuit against the school for wrongful dismissal.

According to the suit, Lee Cheuk Hing believes he was unjustly dismissed by San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School after the incident, Hong Kong's The Witness reported.

He also alleged that the school terminated his contract without providing sufficient notice or payment in lieu of notice.

During a school trip in Singapore in May 2026, Lee was filmed scolding and swearing at two security guards at SAFRA Jurong.

Following backlash over the incident, the school suspended him because his conduct "fell short of public expectations".

Lee later apologised tearfully for his actions and tendered his resignation, but his school rejected it and decided to fire him immediately.

He previously said that he was "very surprised and full of regret" at their decision, but added that he respects it.

Damages

Before Lee was fired, he reportedly earned HK$137,085 (S$22,100) a month as the school principal.

Initially in his lawsuit, he sought over HK$960,000 (S$154,000) in damages which included a severance pay, payment in lieu of notice, compensation for dismissal during paid sick leave, sickness allowance, and difference in retirement fund contributions.

However, during the first court hearing for the case on Sep. 8, he said he would no longer pursue the last two claims as the school had settled those privately.

The final amount of his claims is about HK$902,867 (S$145,600).

Whether immediate dismissal was warranted

The judge presiding over the case said that the main argument was whether Lee's behaviour was serious enough to warrant immediate dismissal by the school.

A representative of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School told the court that on May 22, the school had asked Lee to explain what had happened.

Lee admitted to the incident and claimed that he was trying to protect the students.

As the tour bus was parking on a roadside with double yellow lines, the bus was violating traffic laws, but Lee still shouted at the security guards.

Based on such behaviour, the school found it difficult to continue to have him represent them.

According to HK01, the school clarified that they first suspended Lee on May 26, then terminated his contract on Jun. 2.

They had also apparently notified Lee of the decision to dismiss him via both mail and email before he had applied for sick leave.

The school thus indicated that it was not willing to settle, and the judge scheduled the case to proceed to trial on Dec. 1.