HKIS operator to seek out-of-court settlement talks with US church over lawsuit

The operator of a top international school in Hong Kong has revealed it plans to negotiate soon with the institution’s US co-founder to seek an out-of-court settlement in response to a lawsuit over allegations it breached an operating agreement by only serving the rich.

The senior management of Hong Kong International School (HKIS) told the Post about the plan on Tuesday after speaking with more than 700 parents at two town hall meetings at its Repulse Bay and Tai Tam campuses.

During the meeting, HKIS senior management assured parents that the school would not undergo any operational changes “at least, in the foreseeable future”.

In response, the US-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) said it was deeply disappointed by HKIS leadership, which it accused of continuing to make what the church believed to be “repeated false, misleading and possibly defamatory statements”.

“It is particularly troubling that LCMS representatives were prevented from observing today’s town hall meetings,” the church said.

It said that while the actions of the school leadership “do not give us hope they are serious about working with LCMS to improve HKIS”, the synod was willing to meet with the operator at any time to discuss the matter.