A Hong Kong school that summarily dismissed its principal after he was filmed swearing at security guards in Singapore could face a high legal threshold to justify the move if the dispute goes to court, a lawmaker has stated, likening the decision to a death sentence in the labour sector.

Another lawmaker said the termination might affect the principal’s provident fund payments.

Lee Cheuk-hing, the former principal of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun, said last Friday that he had appointed legal representatives to review his dismissal after the school board rejected his resignation and terminated his contract with immediate effect on June 3 without compensation.

A secondary school principal’s salary ranges from around HK$101,000 to HK$147,100 (US$12,890 to US$18,774) a month, depending on the size of the institution.

Last year, 2,581 teachers withdrew an average of HK$3.38 million each from the Subsidised Schools Provident Fund, which provides payments upon retirement, resignation, dismissal, termination of contract or death of contributors, according to South China Morning Post calculations.

Lee was filmed swearing at security guards during a school trip to Singapore on May 22, prompting his suspension and an investigation by the Education Bureau.