Resignation accepted: Chief Executive Donald Tsang tells reporters he believes what Fanny Law had done when she was Permanent Secretary of Education & Manpower "was out of a selfless passion to serve Hong Kong by promoting education reforms."

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he was pleased the commission of inquiry looking into allegations of government interference in the Hong Kong Institute of Education's academic freedom had rejected them.  He also announced he had accepted former Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower Fanny Law's resignation from her post as Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner.

The Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to the Hong Kong Institute of Education submitted its report to the Chief Executive today. It found there was no concerted effort to force the institute into a merger with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and cleared Secretary for Education & Manpower Prof Arthur Li of impropriety.

However, it accused former Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower Fanny Law of interfering in two academics' freedom.

"We shall study this finding carefully before we can comment further," Mr Tsang told reporters at a briefing this afternoon.

He was pleased the commission expressly rejected the allegation that Mrs Law had asked Prof Paul Morris, the institute's president, to dismiss four staff members who had expressed negative opinions about education reforms. However, the commission did find improper interference with the academic freedom of two of the staff.

He noted the commission's report stated that the integrity of Hong Kong's academic freedom has not been adversely affected. It also found that Mrs Law's complaints and requests could have been well intentioned.

"The commission stated expressly that it believed that when Mrs Law made those complaints to Prof Morris, she was only expressing her anger and frustration, as she was concerned about the image of the teaching profession," Mr Tsang noted.

"It is a matter of tremendous regret and sadness the Mrs Law had applied for early retirement. I have tried, without success, to persuade her to stay, pledging my full trust and support. I have no doubt that what she had done when she was Permanent Secretary of Education & Manpower was out of a selfless passion to serve Hong Kong by promoting education reforms. 

"I have worked with Fanny for long years and known her well. She is a forthright person, diligent and serving with total commitment and dedication. I have absolutely no doubt on Fanny's credibility and trustworthiness as a person. 

"I have, in the circumstances, acceded to her request to step down from the post of Commissioner of ICAC and have forwarded her application to the Central People's Government. The departure of such a dedicated colleague, who has served Hong Kong tirelessly and selflessly for over 30 years, will be a great loss to the Administration and to Hong Kong."

In a statement issued today, Mrs Law said she informed the Chief Executive on Monday of her decision to leave the civil service and he refused to accept it. After receiving the commission of inquiry's report today, she re-submitted her resignation from the ICAC, with effect from July 1.

"It is obvious that my decision is related to the recent inquiry into the allegations relating to the Hong Kong Institute of Education. However, I must declare that I have been contemplating resignation for some time. This is not a rash decision," she wrote.