Integrity Focus

A former site team leader of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, was today (July 26) sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes of over $120,000 from five bar-benders for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.

Wong Hei, 51, former site team leader for bar-bending works of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges – four of conspiracy for agent to accept advantages; two of agent accepting an advantage; and one of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han said the defendant had committed a serious offence of exploiting workers, warranting a custodial sentence. She also ordered the defendant to pay over $120,000, being the bribes involved in the case, as restitutions to MEL.

At the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. The defendant was a site team leader leading a team of bar-benders working at the project’s construction site.

The court heard that between March 2020 and July 2021, the defendant solicited bribes ranging from $100 to $400 per working day from five bar-benders for continuing their employment with MEL. He eventually accepted bribes totalling over $120,000 from the five bar-benders, who believed that their employment would be terminated by the defendant if they did not pay bribes.

In recent years, the ICAC has taken a series of enforcement actions against solicitation and acceptance of illegal rebates from construction workers and launched a series of relevant publicity and education programmes. An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC’s report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.

A total of 26 people, most of whom were site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project, were so far charged by the ICAC. Nineteen of them, including the defendant, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up to 16 months in jail. Five others are awaiting plea or trial.

The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Lawrence Wong.