Two architects of the Housing Department (HD) and an employee of a main contractor, arrested in an ICAC operation last month in connection with suspected corruption over two HD housing projects in Fanling and Tin Shui Wai, have been charged with bribery o ffences.

The defendants are : Barry Tang Hoi-on, 34 and Tjong Kee-ming, 36, both HD architects, and Cheung Ying-chung, 32, assistant construction manager of Penta-Ocean Construction Ltd. (Penta-Ocean).

The defendants, currently on ICAC bail, will appear at 9:30 am at Tuen Mun Court tomorrow (Monday) on a total of four bribery charges.

ICAC investigations earlier revealed that some HD staff were alleged to have received advantages from contractors and sub-contractors for lax site supervision or to facilitate the award of works or supply of building materials.

Twelve persons, including the defendants, were arrested in operation “Ambush” last month.

Tang and Tjong faced a total of three counts of conspiracy to accept advantages. They were alleged of having conspired with Gary Tam Siu-ki, Wilson Chu Ka-hung and others to accept advantages for giving favourable treatment to the staff of Paul Y-ITC Gen eral Contractors Ltd. (Paul Y) and Penta-Ocean.

The alleged advantages included meals, nightclub entertainment, hostess escort and prostitution services.

Tam and Chu were respectively employees of Paul Y and Penta-Ocean, respectively involved in the development projects at Fanling Area 49A Phase 2, and Tin Shui Wai Area 102 Phase 5 and Phase 7.

Cheng was charged with one count of conspiring with Chu and others to offer advantages to HD Assistant Clerk of Works Jung Wing-kwan for a similar reason.

The alleged offences took place between October 1998 and August this year.

The HD and the relevant main contractors have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The ICAC’s corruption inquiry is continuing.