Duo netted by ICAC charged with HK$3.8m bribery over Three-Runway System Project contracts
2022-8-19
A senior executive of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (Airport Authority) and a proprietor of a sub-contractor arrested by the ICAC for suspected corruption in relation to the Three-Runway System Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (3RS Project) were last night (August 18) respectively charged with accepting and offering bribes totalling about HK$3.8 million.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint filed with the ICAC in which staff members of the Airport Authority were alleged of bribery by abusing their power in the 3RS Project. A total of 30 persons, including the aforementioned duo, were arrested in an operation code-named “Blizzard” which took place in the past two days.
After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, Ricky Lee Wing-fai, 47, Principal Manager of the Airport Authority, and Ng Kai-on, 65, sole director-cum-shareholder of Carol Engineering Limited (Carol Engineering), were charged at this stage.
Lee faces two counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; while Ng faces one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will be brought to the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this morning (August 19) for mention.
Lee joined the Airport Authority as a Senior Project Engineer in 2017 and was promoted to Principal Manager in May 2022. At the material time, he was responsible for supervising various contracts of the 3RS Project. Ng was the sole director-cum-shareholder of Carol Engineering, a sub-contractor of the 3RS Project.
The alleged offences took place between October 25, 2018 and June 7, 2022.
One of the charges alleges that Lee conspired together with Ng and/or other persons unknown to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept bribes totalling about HK$2.4 million, as an inducement to or reward for being or remaining favourably disposed to Ng or Carol Engineering.
Another charge alleges that Ng offered bribes totalling HK$500,000 to Lee for the same purpose without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
The remaining charge alleges that Lee conspired together with the operator of another sub-contractor of the 3RS Project to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept bribes totalling about HK$900,000 as inducements to or rewards for assisting the aforesaid sub-contractor to secure supplies contracts of sand or other filling materials from the main contractor(s) in respect of the main reclamation works at the 3RS Project; and assisting to expedite the release of works payments by the main contractor(s) to the aforesaid sub-contractor.
The Airport Authority has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the corruption investigation concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The Commission will continue to maintain close liaison with the Airport Authority while corruption inquiries are continuing.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint filed with the ICAC in which staff members of the Airport Authority were alleged of bribery by abusing their power in the 3RS Project. A total of 30 persons, including the aforementioned duo, were arrested in an operation code-named “Blizzard” which took place in the past two days.
After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, Ricky Lee Wing-fai, 47, Principal Manager of the Airport Authority, and Ng Kai-on, 65, sole director-cum-shareholder of Carol Engineering Limited (Carol Engineering), were charged at this stage.
Lee faces two counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; while Ng faces one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will be brought to the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts this morning (August 19) for mention.
Lee joined the Airport Authority as a Senior Project Engineer in 2017 and was promoted to Principal Manager in May 2022. At the material time, he was responsible for supervising various contracts of the 3RS Project. Ng was the sole director-cum-shareholder of Carol Engineering, a sub-contractor of the 3RS Project.
The alleged offences took place between October 25, 2018 and June 7, 2022.
One of the charges alleges that Lee conspired together with Ng and/or other persons unknown to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept bribes totalling about HK$2.4 million, as an inducement to or reward for being or remaining favourably disposed to Ng or Carol Engineering.
Another charge alleges that Ng offered bribes totalling HK$500,000 to Lee for the same purpose without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
The remaining charge alleges that Lee conspired together with the operator of another sub-contractor of the 3RS Project to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept bribes totalling about HK$900,000 as inducements to or rewards for assisting the aforesaid sub-contractor to secure supplies contracts of sand or other filling materials from the main contractor(s) in respect of the main reclamation works at the 3RS Project; and assisting to expedite the release of works payments by the main contractor(s) to the aforesaid sub-contractor.
The Airport Authority has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the corruption investigation concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The Commission will continue to maintain close liaison with the Airport Authority while corruption inquiries are continuing.