School says weeks-long probe involving Social Welfare Department and police could not find evidence to support claim of child maltreatment
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenWilliam YiuPublished: 3:36pm, 9 Jun 2026A government investigation into an alleged indecent assault of a four-year-old kindergarten pupil at an international school in Hong Kong’s Stanley has concluded that the claim of child maltreatment was “not established”, drawing the weeks-long probe to a close.
The International Montessori School (IMS) welcomed the Social Welfare Department’s conclusion, expressing “immense relief” after going through “a very difficult time” alongside the entire community.
In a letter to parents, Timothy Veale, the head of school, stated that the outcome was reached during a multidisciplinary conference.
“[The conference was] convened by the Social Welfare Department and attended by the Hong Kong Police, the examining medical doctor, following an exhaustive, multi-agency investigation over the past weeks,” the letter said.
“It is with immense relief that we can now tell you that the Social Welfare Department has formally confirmed the final outcome of the recent investigation as ‘not established’ as child maltreatment,” it added.
“[This] has been a very difficult time for the entire community over the past several weeks.”
