HK Principal In SAFRA Outburst Says Bus Had ‘No Choice’ But To Stop On Double Yellow Line
The tour bus company involved in the viral confrontation between a Hong Kong school principal and security officers outside SAFRA Jurong has defended its actions, claiming the bus had “no choice” but to stop along the roadside due to space limitations.
The incident, which drew widespread attention online in Singapore and Hong Kong, involved a Hong Kong principal shouting vulgarities at security staff after being told to move a tour bus parked along double yellow lines.
Videos of the confrontation quickly circulated online, showing the man repeatedly telling security officers to “shut up” while hurling Cantonese expletives and mocking the guards.
The principal was later identified as Edmund Wong Chun-sek, a former Hong Kong lawmaker and manager of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun.
Bus Operator Claims SAFRA Carpark Too Small For Tour Buses
Speaking to Chinese-language media, the managing director of the tour company said large buses are unable to safely enter the SAFRA Jurong carpark.
According to him, the roadside drop-off arrangement had already been used for years whenever tour groups visited a restaurant located inside the club.
He explained that the company avoided entering the carpark because the buses were too large and any accident inside could lead to costly compensation claims.
As a result, drivers allegedly chose to risk receiving parking fines instead.
The operator also claimed there was no proper area inside the premises for passengers to safely alight from the bus.
Company Says Language Barrier Escalated Situation
The tour company further suggested that communication difficulties may have worsened the confrontation.
According to the operator, the bus driver could not speak English, while the female security guard was communicating entirely in English during the incident.
He also claimed the security officer had been raising her voice at passengers while attempting to stop students from getting off the bus.
In another video from the incident, a tour guide could reportedly be heard asking students to disembark for lunch before a security guard intervened.
The standoff lasted for around a minute as the driver continued encouraging students to leave the vehicle despite objections from the security staff.
SAFRA Jurong Says Buses Are Allowed To Drop Off Passengers
In response to public attention surrounding the incident, SAFRA Jurong clarified that buses are allowed to enter the driveway to drop passengers off.
However, the organisation stressed that buses are not permitted to park there as it could block traffic flow and create congestion near the entrance.
SAFRA added that security officers were deployed because the tour bus had allegedly stopped along the main road in violation of traffic regulations.
The incident sparked debate online, with some Singaporeans defending the security officers for enforcing rules, while others questioned whether better arrangements should have been made for large tourist buses.
Principal Suspended After Viral Incident
Following the controversy, the Hong Kong principal was suspended by the school board on May 26.
Hong Kong media reported that the board concluded his conduct had “fallen short of public expectations”.
Students from the school later told reporters they were shocked by the principal’s behaviour, describing him as someone who was usually approachable and often reminded students not to use foul language.
One student reportedly said it was surprising to hear the principal swearing because he normally behaved in a friendly and professional manner.
Even after the confrontation ended and the bus drove away, footage filmed inside the bus allegedly showed the principal continuing to mutter vulgarities under his breath.
The incident has since become widely discussed across Singapore and Hong Kong social media platforms, with many netizens debating whether the security officers or the tour group handled the situation poorly.