Integrity Focus

Following the receipt of corruption complaints this year alleging corruption and exploitation involving imported workers, the ICAC conducted a thorough investigation and revealed that two imported team leaders of a subcontractor of the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport had allegedly collected bribes totalling over HK$6 million from 58 imported workers in relation to their employment. The two team leaders were charged with bribery today (December 19) while the operator and a manager of the subcontractor were wanted by the ICAC.

An ICAC spokesperson notes that the Commission has zero tolerance for corruption. If construction workers are asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should reject and report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC’s report corruption hotline: 25 266 366. To enhance imported workers’ understanding of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption laws, the ICAC would arrange corruption prevention talks for them within eight weeks of their arrival and make use of different channels to disseminate anti-corruption. Additionally, the ICAC would continue to collaborate with the Development Bureau (DEVB) and other stakeholders to avoid similar crimes revealed in the present case.

The two team leaders, Wang Haidong and Wang Jiaqiang, aged 35 and 23 respectively, were both imported workers employed by the Joint Venture of Beijing Urban Construction Group Company Limited and Chevalier (Construction) Company Limited (Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV). They face one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 20) for mention.

At the material time, Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV was the main contractor of the third runway concourse and apron works of the 3RS Project. Zhongyi Hong Kong Limited (Zhongyi HK) was one of its subcontractors. Due to shortage of manpower in the construction industry, Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV employed imported workers for subcontractors at a monthly salary of HK$31,200 or HK$37,800 through the Development Bureau’s Labour Importation Scheme for Construction Sector.

Zhongyi HK was involved in the recruitment of workers conducted by Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV in the Mainland. Since October 2023, team leaders Wang Haidong and Wang Jiaqiang as well as other imported workers were employed in batches by Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV, which prohibited its employees or agents from soliciting or accepting any advantages from others in relation to its business and affairs.

It is alleged that between November 2023 and June 2024, Wang Haidong and Wang Jiaqiang had conspired with the operator cum major shareholder of Zhongyi HK, Yan Lizhong, and its human resources manager, Hu Weida, to accept bribes totalling over HK$6 million from 58 imported workers for assisting them to secure and continue their employment with Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV.

The ICAC enquiries revealed that Yan and Hu had allegedly told the workers before they sign employment contracts with Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV that they were only entitled to a monthly salary of RMB10,000 to RMB20,000, and those not acceding to the arrangement would not be recruited. The workers worried about losing the job opportunities and reluctantly acceded to the arrangement.

Investigation also revealed that the workers surrendered the whole sum of their salaries, i.e. HK$31,200 or HK$37,800, transferred to their bank accounts in Hong Kong by Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV to Zhongyi HK through the arrangement made by Wang Haidong and Wang Jiaqiang. Monthly salaries of RMB10,000 to RMB20,000 were then deposited into workers’ bank accounts in the Mainland.

Upon receipt of the relevant corruption complaints this year, the ICAC took an immediate enforcement action and arrested Wang Haidong and Wang Jiaqiang this June, curbing the bribery scam which exploited imported labours.

In addition, warrants for the arrest of Yan Lizhong, 52, operator cum major shareholder of Zhongyi HK; and Hu Weida, 50, human resources manager of Zhongyi HK, were issued by a Magistrate upon the application made by the ICAC yesterday (December 18).

The DEVB, the Airport Authority Hong Kong and Beijing Urban Construction-Chevalier JV rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.