New Zealand authorities concerned with assault of Chinese student
15/7/2008 16:06
New Zealand's education minister Chris Carter today expressed concern and
sorrow for a 15-year-old Chinese student who was assaulted by a member of his
host family.
Competent authorities will handle the incident according to law,
the minister said.
He also expressed the concern that the incident might
bring negative impact to the country's endeavor to attract overseas
students.
The Chinese student, Qian Ziyu, a student in a middle school in the
South Island of New Zealand, was punched and injured by the father of his host
family after a discussion about his transfer to another school in
Auckland.
The education office of the Chinese embassy to New Zealand had
contacted the student's parents and requested New Zealand's education ministry
and departments concerned to deal with the incident impartially.
Officials of
the education office met the parties involved in the South Island to discuss the
issue.
The host involved would appear in court on assault charge today,
police said.
Major newspapers in New Zealand reported the event, triggering
strong protest from Chinese communities and Chinese students there.
Currently
some 90,000 international students are studying in New Zealand schools, and the
enrollment of foreign students has become an
important source of revenue for
the country.
Xinhua
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