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Oct 2025Mastermind of illegal e-cigarettes trade syndicate and logistics staff among eight charged by ICAC with bribery over product deliveryFollowing an operation codenamed “Heron” and seeking legal advice after conducting an intensive investigation which revealed that a syndicate engaged in the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) had allegedly delivered e-cigarettes and vaping products to customers through corrupt means, the ICAC today (October 13) charged eight people, including the mastermind of the syndicate and staff members of a logistics company, with total bribes amounting to about $370,000.Three of the defendants were Jerry Cheung Wai-teng, 41, operator of an online shop selling e-cigarette products; Cheung’s wife Chan Mei-kwan, 38; and So Wing-shing, 37, warehouse keeper of the online shop.Five other co-defendants, aged between 27 and 56, were staff members of S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited (SF Express), namely Choi Chun-pan, store manager; So Mei-yan and Alda Chung Cheuk-ying, both store assistants; Ng Kwok-hon and Ken Wong Wing-wah, both couriers.Cheung and the five staff members of SF face two counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing jointly face two other charges – one of conspiracy to sell alternative smoking products, contrary to section 15DA(1)(c) of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to sell a poison included in Part 1 of the Poison List, contrary to sections 21 and 33(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 14) for mention. The prosecution will later apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Cheung operated an online shop selling e-cigarettes, and used accounts of him and his wife to receive payments for products sold. So Wing-shing was employed by Cheung to assist in selling and packing e-cigarette products for customers of the online shop.Choi was the store manager posted to an SF store and store assistants So Mei-yan and Chung were his subordinates. Ng and Wong were couriers of another SF store.From April 30, 2022, sale of e-cigarettes has been banned in Hong Kong. To ensure that parcels do not contain prohibited items, including e-cigarettes, SF requires its frontline staff to unpack and check the parcels received. If prohibited items are found, the matter should be reported to a store supervisor.ICAC investigation revealed that e-cigarettes online shop operator Cheung had allegedly approached SF’s store assistant So Mei-yan and courier Ng. Cheung offered to reward the duo for their assistance in delivering e-cigarette products via SF. After So secured Choi’s connivance, she and Ng further sought assistance from colleagues in their respective stores to deliver the parcels. Investigation revealed that between June 2024 and April 2025, the relevant accounts of the online shop received payments totalling about $30 million.One of the charges alleges that between July 2024 and April 2025, Cheung, Choi, So Mei-yan and Chung had conspired together for the three SF staff members to accept bribes totalling about $250,000 from Cheung for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products in breach of SF’s internal policy.Cheung had also allegedly conspired with Ng and Wong by corrupt means for the latter duo accept bribes totalling about $120,000 for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products.The remaining two charges allege that between April 2023 and April 2025, Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing had conspired together to sell alternative smoking products and a poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, namely nicotine.During operation “Heron” mounted in April 2025, the ICAC seized over 200,000 pieces of vaping products comprising vaping devices and cartridges containing nicotine with a market value of about $20 million, a record seizure of such since the e-cigarettes ban came into effect.The Department of Health and SF rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 09
Oct 2025Waitress charged by ICAC for allegedly bribing Labour Department staff in wages and severance payment claimA waitress was charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 8) for allegedly offering bribes consisting of a supermarket voucher and cash worth totalling $350 to two staff members of the Labour Department (LD) for assisting her in filing a claim for wages and severance payment against her former employer. Her offers were rejected by the LD staff.Ting Shuk-fan, 52; faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 10) for plea.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the LD. The defendant was employed by a caterer between February 2012 and June 2019. In mid-August 2024, she submitted a claim form to the LD in relation to her claim against the caterer for wages and severance payment.The Employment Ordinance had a statutory time limit of three months for filing a claim for severance payment. Since the defendant filed her claim after the time limit, an Assistant Clerical Officer of the LD assisted her in applying for an extension of the time limit to facilitate her claim and to fix a conciliation meeting between herself and her former employer.One of the charges alleges that on August 30 2024, the defendant offered a supermarket cash voucher worth $50 to the Assistant Clerical Officer of the LD for assisting her in continuing the claim against her former employer. The Assistant Clerical Officer immediately turned down her offer and reported the matter to a supervisor.The defendant was later informed by an Assistant Labour Officer of the LD that the former employer would not send any representative to attend the conciliation meeting as the defendant resigned on her own accord. The Assistant Labour Officer then asked the defendant to pursue the claim with the Labour Tribunal.The other charge alleges that on December 16 2024, the defendant offered $300 in cash to the Assistant Labour Officer for assisting her in continuing the claim against her former employer. The Assistant Labour Officer immediately turned down the offer and reported the matter to a supervisor.The LD rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence carrying a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $500,000 on conviction. Members of the public should never offer any bribe to civil servants in exchange for assistance or favour. 08
Oct 2025Police sergeant among six charged by ICAC as graft probe reveals $3m commissions fraudThe ICAC charged six individuals on Monday (October 6) after a corruption investigation revealed that a Police Sergeant, together with an insurance agent, had recruited his family members, friends and Police colleagues to pose as dummy insurance agents and policyholders to take out 20 bogus insurance policies using false information to deceive two insurers into releasing payments of commissions, bonuses and allowances totalling about $3 million.Lam Hin-ho, 36, Police Sergeant; faces 21 charges – 20 counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and one count of conspiracy to make false instruments, contrary to sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The five co-defendants, aged between 29 and 45, each faces one count to 12 counts of the charges. Three of them, who posed as dummy downline insurance agents, are Lam Chun-pong and Yu Xiaodan, respectively the elder brother and sister-in-law of Lam Hin-ho; and Lau Chun-yee (formerly known as Lau Man-yee), friend of Lam Hin-ho. The remaining duo, namely Osbert Hui Yee, solicitor; and Sze Hong-chak, Police Constable, posed as dummy policyholders in the present case.All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 9) for mention. The prosecution will later apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.The ICAC investigation stemmed from corruption allegations implicating certain police officers. At the material time, Lam Hin-ho was a Police Sergeant. He came to know an individual who had served as middle manager in Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK) and China Taiping Life Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited (Taiping Life HK). But Lam Hin-ho was not an insurance agent eligible to sell any insurance product.The ICAC investigation revealed that Lam Hin-ho and the middle manager had allegedly recruited certain individuals, including Lam Hin-ho’s family members, friends and Police colleagues, to pose as dummy downline insurance agents and dummy policyholders to take out 20 insurance policies with Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK and pay for the premiums.After underwriting the insurance policies, Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK had respectively released payments, including commissions, bonuses and allowances, totalling about $1 million and about $2 million to the insurance agents concerned. In addition, Lam Hin-ho and the middle manager had allegedly arranged Lau to join Taiping Life HK for taking part in the scam by using false academic qualifications documents.The 20 fraud charges allege that between December 2016 and June 2024, Lam Hin-ho, together with the five co-defendants, the middle manager and other dummy downline agents and policyholders, made false representations to Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK on different occasions, and with intent to defraud, induced the two insurers to underwrite the 20 insurance policies in the present case and release to the agents concerned payments, including relevant commissions, bonuses and allowances.It is alleged that they had falsely represented to Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK that the insurance policy applications concerned were genuine; the relevant premiums or contributions were settled by the policyholders; and the dummy insurance agents had personally interviewed the applicants. The relevant premiums were paid by the defendants and their associates.The remaining charge alleges that between January and May 2021, Lam Hin-ho and Lau had conspired together with the middle manager and other persons to make false instruments, including academic proofs, with the intention to induce Taiping Life HK to accept them as genuine.The Police, Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK rendered assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 06
Oct 2025Subcontractor in Kai Tak Sports Park bribery case gets 10 months’ jail for falsifying accounts to evade tax and ordered to make $14.6m compensationA subcontractor of Kai Tak Sports Park construction project was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment at the District Court today (October 6) after a bribery investigation by the ICAC revealed that he had conspired with a businessman to falsify accounts to evade taxes of over $14.6 million. In addition, a compensation order was made against the subcontractor. While an employee of the main contractor, who pleaded guilty to accepting $1 million in bribe, passed away following an illness before sentencing, the court disposed of the bribe in this case and did not impose a sentence on him.Yiu Shu-wan, 63, director and shareholder of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing); was jailed for 10 months. He was also ordered by the court to pay over $14.6 million, equivalent to the amount the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) charged Lee Shing less in profits tax, as compensation to the government.Co-defendant Yiu Shun-chuen, 64, proprietor of Shun Fat Trading Company (Shun Fat), was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.The duo were found guilty after trial of one count of conspiracy to falsify accounts, contrary to section 19(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Ms Leung Ka-kie remarked that evading to pay tax intentionally was a serious offence. The conspiracy of falsifying accounts in the present case involved substantial sums of money over a period of three financial years. The court took a starting point of 15 months’ imprisonment for Yiu Shu-wan, who was the mastermind gaining from the scam. A 10 month’s jail term was imposed on him, taking into account his compensation made to the government and other mitigating factors.Another co-defendant Ringo Ng Wo-nang, former senior manager of site services department of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited (Hip Hing), pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). While Ng died of an illness before sentencing, no sentence was imposed on him and the court made an order for the delivery of the $1 million bribe concerned to Hip Hing pursuant to section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, in line with the spirit of the POBO in disposing of bribes.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. At the material time, Hip Hing was the main contractor of various public and private construction projects in Hong Kong, including the Two Taikoo Place and the Kai Tak Sports Park. Lee Shing obtained a masonry subcontract of the Two Taikoo Place Project worth about $60 million in 2020, and bid for two masonry subcontracts worth totalling over $250 million of the Sports Park Project in 2021.Ng earlier admitted that he had accepted a bribe of $1 million in relation to the masonry subcontracts of the two construction projects. He was intercepted by ICAC officers after accepting $1 million in cash.The court also heard that between July 2015 and November 2021, Lee Shing director Yiu Shu-wan and Shun Fat proprietor Yiu Shun-cheun had conspired together to falsify accounts of Lee Shing. By making over 80 sets of false accounting documents comprising purchase orders, invoices, delivery dockets and official receipts issued by Lee Shing or Shun Fat, the duo falsely represented that Lee Shing had purchased building materials from Shun Fat and a sum of over $88 million was regarded as operating cost of Lee Shing.The ICAC investigation revealed that Shun Fat, which was a textile trading company, had never sold any building materials to Lee Shing. By falsifying accounts, the defendants had caused the IRD to charge Lee Shing over $14.6 million less in profits tax in three financial years between 2017 and 2020.Hip Hing rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Eddie Sean and Vienna Fong and Public Prosecutor Matthew Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Wily Chan. 03
Oct 2025Ex-bank employee and intermediary charged by ICAC with bribery over account openingA former bank employee and an intermediary were charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 2) for allegedly conspiring together to accept bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, for assisting clients of the intermediary to open bank accounts. Similarly, the bank employee had allegedly offered bribes to a colleague, but his offer was rejected.Chan Chun-hei, 30, then senior universal banker of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC); and Zhang Ling, 29, director and shareholder of A Link Consulting Hong Kong Limited (A Link), jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Chan further faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the POBO.The two defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (October 6) for plea.At the material time, Chan was posted to a branch of HSBC in Kowloon Bay. A Link was set up by Zhang for providing paid services to Mainland clients for opening bank accounts in Hong Kong.One of the charges alleges that between March 2024 and January 2025, the two defendants had conspired together with other persons for Chan to accept bribes from Zhang for assisting clients referred by Zhang and her associates to open bank accounts at HSBC.It is also suspected that in June 2024, Chan had offered bribes to a colleague of the HSBC Kowloon Bay branch for assisting clients referred by Chan to open bank accounts. His offer was rejected by the colleague.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Zhang had referred about 10 clients to Chan each month for opening bank accounts. During the abovementioned period, Chan accepted from Zhang bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000.HSBC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC has been providing integrity training for bank practitioners to heighten their awareness of corruption risks and deepen their understanding of the anti-bribery law. With the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the ICAC launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter last year to promote an integrity culture in the banking industry.
Oct 2025Mastermind of illegal e-cigarettes trade syndicate and logistics staff among eight charged by ICAC with bribery over product deliveryFollowing an operation codenamed “Heron” and seeking legal advice after conducting an intensive investigation which revealed that a syndicate engaged in the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) had allegedly delivered e-cigarettes and vaping products to customers through corrupt means, the ICAC today (October 13) charged eight people, including the mastermind of the syndicate and staff members of a logistics company, with total bribes amounting to about $370,000.Three of the defendants were Jerry Cheung Wai-teng, 41, operator of an online shop selling e-cigarette products; Cheung’s wife Chan Mei-kwan, 38; and So Wing-shing, 37, warehouse keeper of the online shop.Five other co-defendants, aged between 27 and 56, were staff members of S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited (SF Express), namely Choi Chun-pan, store manager; So Mei-yan and Alda Chung Cheuk-ying, both store assistants; Ng Kwok-hon and Ken Wong Wing-wah, both couriers.Cheung and the five staff members of SF face two counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing jointly face two other charges – one of conspiracy to sell alternative smoking products, contrary to section 15DA(1)(c) of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to sell a poison included in Part 1 of the Poison List, contrary to sections 21 and 33(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 14) for mention. The prosecution will later apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Cheung operated an online shop selling e-cigarettes, and used accounts of him and his wife to receive payments for products sold. So Wing-shing was employed by Cheung to assist in selling and packing e-cigarette products for customers of the online shop.Choi was the store manager posted to an SF store and store assistants So Mei-yan and Chung were his subordinates. Ng and Wong were couriers of another SF store.From April 30, 2022, sale of e-cigarettes has been banned in Hong Kong. To ensure that parcels do not contain prohibited items, including e-cigarettes, SF requires its frontline staff to unpack and check the parcels received. If prohibited items are found, the matter should be reported to a store supervisor.ICAC investigation revealed that e-cigarettes online shop operator Cheung had allegedly approached SF’s store assistant So Mei-yan and courier Ng. Cheung offered to reward the duo for their assistance in delivering e-cigarette products via SF. After So secured Choi’s connivance, she and Ng further sought assistance from colleagues in their respective stores to deliver the parcels. Investigation revealed that between June 2024 and April 2025, the relevant accounts of the online shop received payments totalling about $30 million.One of the charges alleges that between July 2024 and April 2025, Cheung, Choi, So Mei-yan and Chung had conspired together for the three SF staff members to accept bribes totalling about $250,000 from Cheung for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products in breach of SF’s internal policy.Cheung had also allegedly conspired with Ng and Wong by corrupt means for the latter duo accept bribes totalling about $120,000 for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products.The remaining two charges allege that between April 2023 and April 2025, Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing had conspired together to sell alternative smoking products and a poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, namely nicotine.During operation “Heron” mounted in April 2025, the ICAC seized over 200,000 pieces of vaping products comprising vaping devices and cartridges containing nicotine with a market value of about $20 million, a record seizure of such since the e-cigarettes ban came into effect.The Department of Health and SF rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 09
Oct 2025Waitress charged by ICAC for allegedly bribing Labour Department staff in wages and severance payment claimA waitress was charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 8) for allegedly offering bribes consisting of a supermarket voucher and cash worth totalling $350 to two staff members of the Labour Department (LD) for assisting her in filing a claim for wages and severance payment against her former employer. Her offers were rejected by the LD staff.Ting Shuk-fan, 52; faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 10) for plea.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the LD. The defendant was employed by a caterer between February 2012 and June 2019. In mid-August 2024, she submitted a claim form to the LD in relation to her claim against the caterer for wages and severance payment.The Employment Ordinance had a statutory time limit of three months for filing a claim for severance payment. Since the defendant filed her claim after the time limit, an Assistant Clerical Officer of the LD assisted her in applying for an extension of the time limit to facilitate her claim and to fix a conciliation meeting between herself and her former employer.One of the charges alleges that on August 30 2024, the defendant offered a supermarket cash voucher worth $50 to the Assistant Clerical Officer of the LD for assisting her in continuing the claim against her former employer. The Assistant Clerical Officer immediately turned down her offer and reported the matter to a supervisor.The defendant was later informed by an Assistant Labour Officer of the LD that the former employer would not send any representative to attend the conciliation meeting as the defendant resigned on her own accord. The Assistant Labour Officer then asked the defendant to pursue the claim with the Labour Tribunal.The other charge alleges that on December 16 2024, the defendant offered $300 in cash to the Assistant Labour Officer for assisting her in continuing the claim against her former employer. The Assistant Labour Officer immediately turned down the offer and reported the matter to a supervisor.The LD rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence carrying a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of $500,000 on conviction. Members of the public should never offer any bribe to civil servants in exchange for assistance or favour. 08
Oct 2025Police sergeant among six charged by ICAC as graft probe reveals $3m commissions fraudThe ICAC charged six individuals on Monday (October 6) after a corruption investigation revealed that a Police Sergeant, together with an insurance agent, had recruited his family members, friends and Police colleagues to pose as dummy insurance agents and policyholders to take out 20 bogus insurance policies using false information to deceive two insurers into releasing payments of commissions, bonuses and allowances totalling about $3 million.Lam Hin-ho, 36, Police Sergeant; faces 21 charges – 20 counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and one count of conspiracy to make false instruments, contrary to sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The five co-defendants, aged between 29 and 45, each faces one count to 12 counts of the charges. Three of them, who posed as dummy downline insurance agents, are Lam Chun-pong and Yu Xiaodan, respectively the elder brother and sister-in-law of Lam Hin-ho; and Lau Chun-yee (formerly known as Lau Man-yee), friend of Lam Hin-ho. The remaining duo, namely Osbert Hui Yee, solicitor; and Sze Hong-chak, Police Constable, posed as dummy policyholders in the present case.All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 9) for mention. The prosecution will later apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.The ICAC investigation stemmed from corruption allegations implicating certain police officers. At the material time, Lam Hin-ho was a Police Sergeant. He came to know an individual who had served as middle manager in Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK) and China Taiping Life Insurance (Hong Kong) Company Limited (Taiping Life HK). But Lam Hin-ho was not an insurance agent eligible to sell any insurance product.The ICAC investigation revealed that Lam Hin-ho and the middle manager had allegedly recruited certain individuals, including Lam Hin-ho’s family members, friends and Police colleagues, to pose as dummy downline insurance agents and dummy policyholders to take out 20 insurance policies with Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK and pay for the premiums.After underwriting the insurance policies, Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK had respectively released payments, including commissions, bonuses and allowances, totalling about $1 million and about $2 million to the insurance agents concerned. In addition, Lam Hin-ho and the middle manager had allegedly arranged Lau to join Taiping Life HK for taking part in the scam by using false academic qualifications documents.The 20 fraud charges allege that between December 2016 and June 2024, Lam Hin-ho, together with the five co-defendants, the middle manager and other dummy downline agents and policyholders, made false representations to Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK on different occasions, and with intent to defraud, induced the two insurers to underwrite the 20 insurance policies in the present case and release to the agents concerned payments, including relevant commissions, bonuses and allowances.It is alleged that they had falsely represented to Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK that the insurance policy applications concerned were genuine; the relevant premiums or contributions were settled by the policyholders; and the dummy insurance agents had personally interviewed the applicants. The relevant premiums were paid by the defendants and their associates.The remaining charge alleges that between January and May 2021, Lam Hin-ho and Lau had conspired together with the middle manager and other persons to make false instruments, including academic proofs, with the intention to induce Taiping Life HK to accept them as genuine.The Police, Sun Life HK and Taiping Life HK rendered assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 06
Oct 2025Subcontractor in Kai Tak Sports Park bribery case gets 10 months’ jail for falsifying accounts to evade tax and ordered to make $14.6m compensationA subcontractor of Kai Tak Sports Park construction project was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment at the District Court today (October 6) after a bribery investigation by the ICAC revealed that he had conspired with a businessman to falsify accounts to evade taxes of over $14.6 million. In addition, a compensation order was made against the subcontractor. While an employee of the main contractor, who pleaded guilty to accepting $1 million in bribe, passed away following an illness before sentencing, the court disposed of the bribe in this case and did not impose a sentence on him.Yiu Shu-wan, 63, director and shareholder of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing); was jailed for 10 months. He was also ordered by the court to pay over $14.6 million, equivalent to the amount the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) charged Lee Shing less in profits tax, as compensation to the government.Co-defendant Yiu Shun-chuen, 64, proprietor of Shun Fat Trading Company (Shun Fat), was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.The duo were found guilty after trial of one count of conspiracy to falsify accounts, contrary to section 19(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Ms Leung Ka-kie remarked that evading to pay tax intentionally was a serious offence. The conspiracy of falsifying accounts in the present case involved substantial sums of money over a period of three financial years. The court took a starting point of 15 months’ imprisonment for Yiu Shu-wan, who was the mastermind gaining from the scam. A 10 month’s jail term was imposed on him, taking into account his compensation made to the government and other mitigating factors.Another co-defendant Ringo Ng Wo-nang, former senior manager of site services department of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited (Hip Hing), pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). While Ng died of an illness before sentencing, no sentence was imposed on him and the court made an order for the delivery of the $1 million bribe concerned to Hip Hing pursuant to section 102 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, in line with the spirit of the POBO in disposing of bribes.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. At the material time, Hip Hing was the main contractor of various public and private construction projects in Hong Kong, including the Two Taikoo Place and the Kai Tak Sports Park. Lee Shing obtained a masonry subcontract of the Two Taikoo Place Project worth about $60 million in 2020, and bid for two masonry subcontracts worth totalling over $250 million of the Sports Park Project in 2021.Ng earlier admitted that he had accepted a bribe of $1 million in relation to the masonry subcontracts of the two construction projects. He was intercepted by ICAC officers after accepting $1 million in cash.The court also heard that between July 2015 and November 2021, Lee Shing director Yiu Shu-wan and Shun Fat proprietor Yiu Shun-cheun had conspired together to falsify accounts of Lee Shing. By making over 80 sets of false accounting documents comprising purchase orders, invoices, delivery dockets and official receipts issued by Lee Shing or Shun Fat, the duo falsely represented that Lee Shing had purchased building materials from Shun Fat and a sum of over $88 million was regarded as operating cost of Lee Shing.The ICAC investigation revealed that Shun Fat, which was a textile trading company, had never sold any building materials to Lee Shing. By falsifying accounts, the defendants had caused the IRD to charge Lee Shing over $14.6 million less in profits tax in three financial years between 2017 and 2020.Hip Hing rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Eddie Sean and Vienna Fong and Public Prosecutor Matthew Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Wily Chan. 03
Oct 2025Ex-bank employee and intermediary charged by ICAC with bribery over account openingA former bank employee and an intermediary were charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 2) for allegedly conspiring together to accept bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, for assisting clients of the intermediary to open bank accounts. Similarly, the bank employee had allegedly offered bribes to a colleague, but his offer was rejected.Chan Chun-hei, 30, then senior universal banker of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC); and Zhang Ling, 29, director and shareholder of A Link Consulting Hong Kong Limited (A Link), jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Chan further faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the POBO.The two defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (October 6) for plea.At the material time, Chan was posted to a branch of HSBC in Kowloon Bay. A Link was set up by Zhang for providing paid services to Mainland clients for opening bank accounts in Hong Kong.One of the charges alleges that between March 2024 and January 2025, the two defendants had conspired together with other persons for Chan to accept bribes from Zhang for assisting clients referred by Zhang and her associates to open bank accounts at HSBC.It is also suspected that in June 2024, Chan had offered bribes to a colleague of the HSBC Kowloon Bay branch for assisting clients referred by Chan to open bank accounts. His offer was rejected by the colleague.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Zhang had referred about 10 clients to Chan each month for opening bank accounts. During the abovementioned period, Chan accepted from Zhang bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000.HSBC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC has been providing integrity training for bank practitioners to heighten their awareness of corruption risks and deepen their understanding of the anti-bribery law. With the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the ICAC launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter last year to promote an integrity culture in the banking industry.