A Health Inspector II of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, charged by the ICAC, admitted having solicited and accepted unauthorised loans from restaurant and market stall operators at Eastern Court today (Friday).

Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned sentencing until March 14, 2000. The defendant was granted bail of $5,000 in cash and was ordered not to leave Hong Kong.

Wong Hoi-wan, 28, today pleaded guilty to three charges under Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

The charges alleged Wong, while being a Health Inspector of the then Urban Services Department (USD), of accepting loans totalling $9,500 from Hon Man-bor, Lau Pui-lam and Yu Yik-ming last year without the general or special permission of the Chief Execut ive.

The defendant is responsible for licence and hygiene inspections of restaurants in Eastern District, Hong Kong.

During an ICAC ambush operation in September last year, the defendant was arrested red-handed when he accepted $5,000 from a restaurant operator.

The court heard that in 1999, the defendant had solicited and accepted loans of $4,500 in total from Hon and Lau, respectively owner of Pak Lee Caf'e in Sai Wan Ho and Cheong Fat Poultry Stall in Yiu Tung Market in Shaukeiwan. The loans had not been rep aid.

On another occasion in August 1999, the defendant went to Sun Chiu Kee Restaurant at Shaukeiwan Road following a complaint about the emission of excessive hot air from the restaurant. The defendant asked Yu, the restaurant owner, to rectify the problem.

After conducting an inspection at Sun Chiu Kee on September 9, 1999, Wong solicited a $5,000 loan from Yu. Yu turned down his request and reported the matter to the ICAC.

Two days later, Yu met the defendant in a fast food shop in Sheung Wan and gave him $5,000 as requested. The defendant accepted the money.

Wong was arrested after the meeting which was monitored by the ICAC.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Grace Yee.