Two men charged in connection to CEDD project corruption

Two individuals associated with a subcontractor of the Civil Engineering and Development Department’s project were charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption with conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage.

In September last year, the ICAC charged a former deputy general manager of a CEDD Tseung Kwan O works project’s contractor – China Railway 15th Bureau Group Company Limited (Hong Kong Representative Office) (CR15) – for allegedly agreeing to accept a HK$2 million bribe from a subcontractor – Hanki Contractors (Hong Kong) & Associates Limited (Hanki) – to secure a subcontract that ultimately did not materialize.

Upon receiving further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC on Monday further charged Hanki’s director and shareholder Ng Kwok-hei and Kenus Lai Wai-keung, a merchant, associated with the subcontractor with bribery. 

The two were released on ICAC bail and pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday for mention. 

The prosecution will seek to consolidate this case with the one from last September and transfer them to the District Court for a plea.

Between July and November 2022, the two allegedly conspired together with the operator of Hanki Ng Koon-shing for former deputy general manager of CR15 Xu Wenju to accept a HK$2 million bribe for assisting Hanki in securing the slope and soil nail works subcontract of the CEDD project.

The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint indicating that the four defendants allegedly reached a bribery agreement during that period.

It was revealed that Hanki would not have been invited to bid without Xu’s recommendation. 
Although Hanki received advice and assistance from Xu during the tender process, the contract was ultimately not awarded to them as they were not the lowest bidder.

(Cheng Wong)