Integrity Focus

In the course of ICAC’s investigation into corruption cases in respect of sub-contracts of the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport, it was revealed that a reclamation sand supplier had been allegedly involved in bribery and other offences. One of the operators of the supplier was jailed for 14 months after admitting at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (December 27) that he had stolen $350,000 from the company.

Wong Bun-hon, 63, operator of Joint Field Engineering Limited (JFEL), pleaded guilty to three amended charges of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. The prosecution withdrew two amended charges of handling stolen goods, contrary to Section 24 of the Theft Ordinance, against his son Wong Yu-hang, 28, director-cum-shareholder of JFEL.

In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Ms Alison Kao Lai-ying remarked that Wong Bun-hon had breached the trust placed in him, warranting a jail term of 16 months as the stolen sum amounted to $350,0000. His sentence was reduced to 14 months’ imprisonment, taking into account his voluntary full repayment to the company.

The court heard that JFEL was a supplier of sand for reclamation works of the 3RS Project. Wong Bun-hon was one of the directors and shareholders of JFEL. He resigned as JFEL’s director in mid-May 2020 and subsequently sold all the shares to Junde Group Company Limited (Junde). He remained to be responsible for JFEL’s daily management and was the sole account signatory to a bank account of JFEL.

Wong Bun-hon’s son Wong Yu-hang was employed by JFEL in July 2019 and handled the accounts and financial matters of the company. He was required to send a record of JFEL’s monthly expenses to Junde every month.

Between July and December 2020, Wong Bun-hon had signed three cheques to withdraw three sums totalling $350,000 from the bank account of JFEL while Wong Yu-hang did not report the three transactions to Junde.

ICAC investigation revealed that Wong Bun-hon withdrew the three sums of money for payment of family expenses. Junde prohibited staff of JFEL from embezzling company funds, and had never consented to Wong Bun-hon or Wong Yu-hang using company funds for personal purposes.

The ICAC arrested various people on suspicion of corruption in operation “Blizzard” in August 2022. After conducting intensive investigations, 10 people were charged with multiple counts of bribery, money laundering and theft offences in five cases between February and April this year. The defendants included senior staff members of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and representatives of sub-contractor of the 3RS Project. The total bribe money involved in the cases had amounted to around $7.7 million, concerning works sub-contracts and materials purchase orders worth over $260 million in total.

Apart from being sentenced for theft in the present case today, Wong Bun-hon, together with eight other defendants in the remaining four cases, will appear in the District Court in March 15 next year for mention.

The AAHK and Junde had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Marco Li, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.