Integrity Focus

A casual worker of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus was charged by the ICAC on Wednesday (April 3) for allegedly soliciting a bribe for assisting two tourists to board a shuttle bus departing for Zhuhai from Hong Kong before the Chinese New Year’s Eve last year.

Ng Kwong-lung, 35, then casual worker of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Shuttle Bus Company Limited (HZMBus), faces one count of agent soliciting an advantage and one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (April 8) for plea.

HZMBus operates the HZMB shuttle bus service which runs between Hong Kong and Zhuhai. At the material time, HZMB shuttle bus was allowed to carry a specific number of passengers daily from Hong Kong to Zhuhai in view of the Mainland anti-pandemic measures. Only passengers with valid tickets booked through online real-name reservation were allowed to board the shuttle bus.

The defendant was tasked to assist passengers to board the shuttle bus at the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB, including verifying whether passengers at the check-in gate got valid tickets for that day.

On January 20, 2023 the defendant allegedly solicited a bribe of $1,000 from two Mainland tourists for assisting them to board a HZMB shuttle bus heading to Zhuhai, and accepted a bribe of RMB 500 from one of the duo.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the two tourists arrived at the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB in late evening of January 20, 2023, the day before the Chinese New Year’s Eve. They sought assistance from the defendant as they did not manage to secure any ticket for the day or the following day. ICAC investigation also revealed that one of them subsequently declined the defendant’s solicitation.

HZMBus has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.