Two EMSD supervisors and a supplier prosecuted over suspected bribery

Two works supervisors from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and one supplier involved in a suspected procurement bribery case are set to appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday afternoon.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption charged the trio on March 17 with conspiracy to defraud for allegedly securing purchase orders exceeding HK$13.6 million from the supplier over seven years through bribery and inflating item quantities and prices.

The ICAC stated it might pursue additional charges against the trio or prosecute others after obtaining further legal advice from the Department of Justice.

Two of the defendants, Tsang Tak-keung, 57, and Yip Wai-ho, 51, are works supervisors in the EMSD’s Health Sector Division, while the third defendant, Cheung Chun-kit, 66, is the sole operator of three suppliers: Leader Med Technology Limited, Hi Quali Trading Company and Smartechnique Services Company.

The three face two charges of conspiracy to defraud under Common Law at the current stage. 

At the time, Tsang and Yip were responsible for maintenance services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club Polyclinic. 

They were tasked with obtaining supplier quotations for machinery parts and compiling internal quotation vetting documents, as per EMSD procurement guidelines, which require inviting multiple suppliers for items valued at or below HK$50,000.

One charge alleged that between January 2020 and June 2024, Tsang and Cheung conspired to defraud the EMSD, falsely claiming that Cheung’s companies were respectively the lowest bidders and inflating item quantities and prices. 

This resulted in about 180 purchase orders totaling over HK$8 million awarded to Cheung’s companies.

The second charge alleged that between January 2017 and June 2024, Yip and Cheung were involved in a similar conspiracy concerning about 140 purchase orders valued at around HK$5.6 million.

The ICAC revealed that Cheung allegedly offered gifts to Tsang and Yip to inflate order amounts, leading to fabricated purchase orders.

Tsang was suspected of accepting over 80 gifts valued at over HK$500,000, while Yip allegedly accepted more than 20 gifts totaling about HK$800,000.

(Cheng Wong)