ICAC charges housing officer over false home-inspection records

A 51-year-old housing officer was charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption for providing false records as she claimed to have conducted home inspection visits of over 380 flats in a Tung Chung public housing estate in a year. However, it was later found that one of the occupants of a flat she claimed to have visited was already dead during that time.

Li Bik-ki faced 19 counts of being an agent, who used a document with intent to deceive her principal, violating the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

She was posted to Mun Tung Estate in Tung Chung, responsible for dealing with tenancy matters and conducting biennial inspection to combat abuse of public rental housing resources.

Li was also required to conduct surprise home inspection visits to flats to verify and record their occupancy status, and was the only officer responsible for home inspection visits at Mun Hong House of Mun Tung Estate.

The Housing Department later found records that proved Li's submissions were faulty, as they discovered a sole occupant in one of the flats had already passed away, among the flats she visited between November 2020 and December 2021.

The department then filed a complaint and rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation into the case, which later revealed that over 320 records submitted by Li were questionable.

The ICAC charged Li on Wednesday with 19 charges after receiving legal advice from the Department of Justice. "During the period, the defendant used 19 records containing false statements to mislead the Housing Department that she had conducted home inspection visits at 19 flats at Mun Hong House of Mun Tung Estate," the ICAC said.

"Civil servants should uphold a high standard of integrity in discharging their duties diligently so as to safeguard the proper use of public resources."

Li has been released on bail, pending her appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today for plea.

According to the POBO, any agent who, with intent to mislead the principal with a document, shall be liable to a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for seven years.