Hong Kong former lawmaker Au Nok-hin and canto-pop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming has been charged by the city’s anti-corruption watchdog today over election fraud in the 2018 LegCo By-election.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement today that Au, a candidate of the 2018 LegCo By-election for Hong Kong Island Geographical Constituency, and Wong jointly face one count of engaging in corrupt conduct to provide others with entertainment at an election.
The duo will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday for plea.
The charge alleges that on March 3, 2018, Au and Wong engaged in corrupt conduct at the 2018 Legco By-election for Hong Kong Island Geographical Constituency by providing entertainment, namely a singing performance, for another person for the purpose of inducing the other person to vote for Au at the election.
Since late February 2018, Au had published various posts on his social media page announcing that he would hold a two-hour rally at Edinburgh Place, Central in the evening of March 3, 2018. A few hours before the rally was held, Au published another post on his social media page announcing that Wong would perform at the rally.
At the rally, Wong performed two songs on stage. At the end of the performance, he appealed to the participants of the rally to vote for Au at the election.
ICAC enquiries revealed that a video of the rally, including Wong’s performance and his appeal to the participants, was shared on Au’s social media page on March 4, 2018. Au reported the video and the post announcing Wong’s performance at the rally as his election advertisements.
The 2018 Legco By-election for Hong Kong Island Geographical Constituency was held on March 11, 2018. Au was one of the four candidates of the election and was elected, bagging 137,181 votes.
An ICAC spokesperson stressed that providing others with refreshments and entertainment at an election is a corrupt conduct and a serious offence.
Wong rose to prominence as the vocalist for the Canto-pop duo Tat Ming Pair during the 1980s before embarking on a solo career. He also co-founded the LGBT rights organization Big Love Alliance and the non-profit charitable organization Renaissance Foundation.
