Social worker Eddie Tse arrested for 'subsidy frauds'

Staff reporter

Social worker and environmental activist Eddie Tse Sai-kit has been arrested for allegedly deceiving authorities over his old-age living allowance and public housing cash allowance, according to sources.

The police's Crime Hong Kong Island Regional

Headquarters said officers on Friday arrested a 67-year-old man surnamed Tse for deception. Tse allegedly made false statements and dishonestly concealed his income when he applied for the government subsidies.

Tse was accompanied by a woman when he walked out of the Western Police Station in Sai Ying Pun at around 4pm. He did not answer reporters' questions.

It is understood that Tse allegedly deceived authorities about his actual income of over HK$350,000 when applying for an old-age living allowance between 2020 and 2024, as well as the Housing Department's cash allowance trial scheme in 2024.

According to the department's website, the three-year trial scheme aims to alleviate the difficulties in livelihood faced by grassroots families who have been waiting for public rental housing for a prolonged time.

An insider who knows Tse personally said the social worker-activist had collaborated with several local higher education institutes, with which employment contracts were signed and records of salary payments kept.

It is understood that Tse is suspected of professional misconduct and having repeatedly promoted illicit ideas and acted as a leader in encouraging youngsters to take to the streets to oppose the government.

"The arrest [of Tse] had demonstrated police's determination and principle of 'laws are observed and strictly enforced, to bring offenders to account,' " a source said.

Tse became a social worker in 1993, and served a temporary housing area in Kowloon Bay. He was deployed to YWCA's Tai O Community Work Office in 2003.

The outspoken social worker, also the convener of Save Lantau Alliance, had raised several legal challenges against the government.

In July last year, he filed a judicial review to the High Court, seeking to overturn the report of the San Tin Technopole, which paved the way for the government's conditional approval of the project.

Tse later applied for a stay of proceedings twice upon his application for legal aid, but were rejected by High Court Judge Russell Coleman, who said the case should not be postponed, citing public interest.