Schoolchildren grieved yesterday for a fellow pupil who was strangled at home by his mother on Tuesday.
North Point Methodist Primary School principal Serena Leung Lai-lai said the school was "in great sorrow" after learning of the death of Yu Yat-kan, 10. "He was cheerful and helpful. Though his academic performance was average, he loved reading," she said.
The Primary Five pupil was strangled by his mentally ill mother Louie Miu-man, 47, who then hanged herself at their Taikoo Shing home, police say.
"The boy attended school happily and got along with others without problems," Leung said.
She said he arrived and left by shuttle bus and that the school did not know much about his parents as they seldom came to pick him up.
One of Yat-kan's classmates, Adrian Lam Hong-ching, described his friend as introverted.
The school sent a letter to its pupils' parents yesterday informing them of Yat-kan's death and advising them to notify the school if their children suffered from emotional problems.
Teachers and pupils also wrote condolence cards and the school led prayers to mourn the boy.
"Students are being counselled in groups today to ease their pain," Leung said.
Examinations were under way at the school, but those for Primary Five have been postponed to next week to allow the pupils to recover from the loss of Yat-kan.
A spokeswoman for the Education Bureau said specialists had been sent to support the school and that it would keep in touch with the school to provide appropriate assistance.