A father has reported the vice-principal of a Hong Kong secondary school to police after he allegedly waved a pair of scissors at his son, who had been told to cut his hair.

The 15-year-old student at Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College in Tuen Mun had reportedly been in a dispute with the school for some time over the length of his fringe, which school authorities said violated grooming regulations.

Tensions reportedly escalated at the school’s end-of-term ceremony on Monday when the vice-principal, 57, allegedly brandished a pair of scissors during a private meeting with the Form Three student and told him to cut his hair.

The boy’s father, 40, brought his son back to school for an explanation on Tuesday. After waiting some time without seeing the principal, the father called police to report the matter.

A police spokesman said the case was currently being handled as a dispute.

The school said it had launched an internal investigation and was cooperating with police and the family involved. It said it was committed to handling the case with fairness.

The Education Bureau said the school had reported the incident. A crisis management team, which provides support to students in need, had been activated to follow up on the case. It reminded the school to maintain effective communication with parents.

The father told the media that the incident had shaken his son, who recounted feeling threatened.

The school had taken issue with his son’s grooming, specifically the length of his hair since Form One, he said. Despite several meetings with school administrators, including in May, their stance remained unchanged.

His son was eventually penalised with a demerit.

The father said his son was a high-achieving student who topped his class and had never received disciplinary action.

He accused the school of having outdated grooming standards and said he was willing to let his son become the first in Hong Kong to be suspended over long hair if it triggered reform. – SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST