Integrity Focus

Following enforcement actions earlier taken by the ICAC in Operation “Blizzard”, a number of persons were arrested and charged in separate cases for suspected corruption in relation to the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport. The total bribe money involved in the cases amounted to around $7.7 million, concerning works sub-contracts and materials purchase orders worth over $280 million in total. Among the persons charged by the ICAC, a former Principal Manager of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today (September 5) admitted at the District Court that he had accepted bribes of about $3.3 million and laundered crime proceeds totalling about $5.7 million.

Ricky Lee Wing-fai, 49, former Principal Manager of the AAHK, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and six counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as money-laundering), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. Another money-laundering offence against him was left on court file.

Judge Mr Eddie Yip Chor-man adjourned the case to September 12 for mention. Lee was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The aforesaid offences took place between January 2017 and August 2022. The court heard that in January 2017, Lee joined the AAHK as a Senior Project Engineer. He was promoted to Principal Manager in May 2022. At the material time, he was responsible for managing various works contracts of the 3RS Project, including those for the main reclamation and the new runway. Lee was also authorised to recommend subcontractors to contractors.

Regarding one of the corruption charges, Lee admitted that he had accepted bribes totalling about $2.5 million from the proprietor of a civil engineering and foundation projects subcontractor for assisting the subcontractor to be favoured by the main reclamation works contractor of the 3RS Project, and securing a subcontract. The subcontractor had accepted payments totalling about $8.3 million in relation to the relevant subcontract.

Lee was also found to have recommended the subcontractor to the main contractor of one of the new runway projects. The subcontractor was awarded subcontracts worth $28 million, which were eventually terminated by the main contractor after the ICAC investigation turned overt.

For another corruption charge, Lee admitted that he had accepted bribes of $800,000 from the operators of a supplier of sand for reclamation works for assisting the supplier to secure purchase orders for the main reclamation works, and to assist the supplier in demanding payments from the main reclamation works contractor. Investigation revealed that upon the recommendation by Lee, purchase orders worth over $140 million were placed with the supplier during the abovementioned period.

Lee also admitted that he had laundered crime proceeds totalling about $5.7 million, including the abovementioned bribes.

An ICAC spokesperson noted that the corruption cases concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The ICAC learned that the AAHK had conducted a comprehensive review, with no abnormalities and deficiencies regarding the quality of works identified.

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

Five co-defendants, namely former General Manager of the AAHK Yin Kek-kiong; proprietor of Carol Engineering Limited (CEL) Ng Kai-on; CEL’s former project manager Rob Liu Wai-lun and two operators of Joint Field Engineering Limited Wong Ching-ng and Wong Bun-hon, were also charged with multiple counts of bribery offences. They will appear again at the District Court on September 12 for mention. In addition, Yin Kek-kiong and sub-contractor Goldwave Steel Structure Engineering Limited’s director Alan Li Kam-on and an associate Joseph Wat Ki-cheung were charged by the ICAC in a separate case for one count of bribery offence. Their case is set for trial at the District Court on June 2, 2025.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Noelle Aileen Chit, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.

An ICAC spokesperson stressed that the ICAC will continue to take stringent enforcement action against corruption so as to safeguard the probity of Hong Kong and bring offenders to justice.