Housing Department site staff and subcontractors face corruption charges over Shek Yam Estate project
2000-11-15
Two site staff of the Housing Department and two subcontractors, who were among 16 people earlier arrested in a corruption investigation connected with Shek Yam Phase II Redevelopment Project (the project), were charged by the ICAC.
Ku Chun-lung, 44, Clerk of Works; Chan Hon-keung, 39, Assistant Clerk of Works; Siu Cho-chin, 44, concrete works subcontractor and Ng Wai-keung, 45, iron binding subcontractor, appeared in Tsuen Wan Court in three separate cases.
The $1,096 million Housing Department (HD) project comprises a commercial centre, two harmony-type public housing blocks and one small household block.
In the first case, Ku faced two counts of accepting $15,000 in total from Siu Cho-chin and Siu Cho-leung of Chin Pang Engineering Company (Chin Pang), the concrete works subcontractor.
It was alleged that the bribes were offered for Ku to exercise lax supervision of the works carried out by Chin Pang at the project between June 1998 and October 1999.
Ku was further charged with five counts of accepting $1,700 in “lai-sees” from other subcontractors responsible for formwork, iron binding, plastering and setting out works at the project without the general and special permission of the Chief Executive.
The alleged offences occurred during the Lunar New Year in 1999 and in 2000.
Siu was charged with one count of offering $10,000 to Ku for Ku to expedite the inspection of iron binding works at the site between June and October in 1998.
Magistrate Mr Stephen Geiser adjourned their case to December 6, 2000 for plea.
In the second case, Chan was charged with nine counts of accepting “lai-sees” totalling $4,500 from five subcontractors without the Chief Executive's permission during the Lunar New Year in 1999 and in 2000.
He pleaded not guilty this morning. The trial date has been set for February 19, 2001.
In the third case, Ng was accused of three counts of offering to Ku payment for tour expenses to Macau and gambling chips worth $12,000 in total between March and August in 1999.
The advantages were said to induce or to reward Ku in allowing Keung Hung Kee Iron Engineering Company (Keung Hung Kee) to use untested reinforcement steel bars and exercising lax supervision of the iron binding works carried out by Keung Hung Kee in the project.
Ng further faced four counts of offering “lai-sees” of $4,000 in total to Works Supervisors I Tse Sai-lung and Tse Choi-lam between February in 1999 and February in 2000 while having dealings with the Hong Kong Government through the Housing Department.
Ng also pleaded not guilty and was ordered to face trial on February 14, 2001.
The four defendants were granted bail ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 in cash, while Siu was required to pay a cash surety of $100,000.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Carol Cheung.
A partner and a foreman of Sam Luen Engineering Company, the plastering works subcontractor, were earlier charged with offering bribes to HD site supervisors in connection with the same project.
The pair denied all charges when they appeared in Tsuen Wan Court on November 3, 2000. The trial date has not been fixed.
Ku Chun-lung, 44, Clerk of Works; Chan Hon-keung, 39, Assistant Clerk of Works; Siu Cho-chin, 44, concrete works subcontractor and Ng Wai-keung, 45, iron binding subcontractor, appeared in Tsuen Wan Court in three separate cases.
The $1,096 million Housing Department (HD) project comprises a commercial centre, two harmony-type public housing blocks and one small household block.
In the first case, Ku faced two counts of accepting $15,000 in total from Siu Cho-chin and Siu Cho-leung of Chin Pang Engineering Company (Chin Pang), the concrete works subcontractor.
It was alleged that the bribes were offered for Ku to exercise lax supervision of the works carried out by Chin Pang at the project between June 1998 and October 1999.
Ku was further charged with five counts of accepting $1,700 in “lai-sees” from other subcontractors responsible for formwork, iron binding, plastering and setting out works at the project without the general and special permission of the Chief Executive.
The alleged offences occurred during the Lunar New Year in 1999 and in 2000.
Siu was charged with one count of offering $10,000 to Ku for Ku to expedite the inspection of iron binding works at the site between June and October in 1998.
Magistrate Mr Stephen Geiser adjourned their case to December 6, 2000 for plea.
In the second case, Chan was charged with nine counts of accepting “lai-sees” totalling $4,500 from five subcontractors without the Chief Executive's permission during the Lunar New Year in 1999 and in 2000.
He pleaded not guilty this morning. The trial date has been set for February 19, 2001.
In the third case, Ng was accused of three counts of offering to Ku payment for tour expenses to Macau and gambling chips worth $12,000 in total between March and August in 1999.
The advantages were said to induce or to reward Ku in allowing Keung Hung Kee Iron Engineering Company (Keung Hung Kee) to use untested reinforcement steel bars and exercising lax supervision of the iron binding works carried out by Keung Hung Kee in the project.
Ng further faced four counts of offering “lai-sees” of $4,000 in total to Works Supervisors I Tse Sai-lung and Tse Choi-lam between February in 1999 and February in 2000 while having dealings with the Hong Kong Government through the Housing Department.
Ng also pleaded not guilty and was ordered to face trial on February 14, 2001.
The four defendants were granted bail ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 in cash, while Siu was required to pay a cash surety of $100,000.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Carol Cheung.
A partner and a foreman of Sam Luen Engineering Company, the plastering works subcontractor, were earlier charged with offering bribes to HD site supervisors in connection with the same project.
The pair denied all charges when they appeared in Tsuen Wan Court on November 3, 2000. The trial date has not been fixed.