The former chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB), charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) convicted at District Court of misconduct in public office.

Wong Hon-ching San Stephen, 51, was found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office under the Common Law.

Judge Alan Wright adjourned the case until tomorrow (Thursday) morning for sentence, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The charge stated that Wong had wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001 in relation to his public office as LLB chairman, in that he had:

- engaged in discussions with liquor licence applicants and their agents prior to the convening of LLB meetings during which applications of the applicants would be considered;

- caused the liquor licence applicants to believe that their applications might benefit if Catherine Yu Mei-lin was instructed as their legal representative in LLB meetings;

- improperly provided Yu internal documents of LLB, which were confidential in nature;

- failed to act impartially as LLB chairman in providing Yu such documents;

- failed to disclose a conflict between his duty to remain impartial and his interest in maintaining his personal relationship with Yu, at LLB meetings of which he was chairman; and

- failed to abstain from the decision making process in respect of those liquor licence applications before LLB which Yu acted as the applicants' legal representative.

The prosecution was today represented by Graeme Mackay on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Markle Ng.