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Hong Kong International School and US Church Founder Settle Financial Mismanagement Lawsuit
🇭🇰 Hong Kong /Culture & Society

Hong Kong International School and US Church Founder Settle Financial Mismanagement Lawsuit

From Hong Kong Free Press · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Hong Kong International School and The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod have settled a lawsuit over the school’s finances, governance and mission.
  • HKIS will no longer be governed by the church but will continue offering an American-style education grounded in Christian faith, and the school says tuition will not change.
  • The settlement also ends the church’s plan to establish a separate Hong Kong Pacific School and begins steps to transfer the Repulse Bay campus lease to the school operator.

Hong Kong International School and its US-based founder have ended a dispute that raised questions about money, governance and who the school was meant to serve.

The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, which founded HKIS, sued the school’s operating body, Hong Kong International School Association Limited, in the High Court last September. The church cited serious concerns about finances, transparency and leadership. It also said HKIS held more than HK$2.8 billion in reserves while serving only a small, elite section of Hong Kong, contrary to the original mission of being open to all children.

Under the out-of-court settlement, HKIS will no longer be governed by the church. The school will continue to provide an American-style education grounded in the Christian faith. Board chair Harold Kim told parents that HKIS remained in a strong financial position and that the settlement would not affect tuition fees.

American-style education grounded in the Christian faith

— Hong Kong International SchoolThe school described the educational model it will continue after the settlement.

Kim acknowledged the church’s role in founding the school and in establishing the Christian identity that continues to shape it. He also told parents that the previous 11 months had brought uncertainty and anxiety to the community. The school said the lease for its Repulse Bay campus remained in the LCMS’s name, but procedures were underway to transfer it to HKISAL. The lease for the Tai Tam campus is already held by the operator.

The settlement removes the risk of a continuing legal fight over the school’s campuses and ends the church’s plan to establish Hong Kong Pacific School if its concerns were not addressed. In a statement, the LCMS confirmed that the dispute had been resolved and said the church had recovered a monetary amount, although the available text does not provide the figure.

The past 11 months have brought uncertainty and anxiety to our community, and we are grateful for the support of and trust in HKIS that you have shown throughout this period.

— Harold KimThe HKIS board chair addressed parents about the disruption caused by the dispute.
About this summary

Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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