Two partners of a construction works sub-contractor, charged by the ICAC, were convicted of offering bribes to a Highways Department (HyD) officer for speeding up the certification of completion of works at Tsuen Wan Court today (Monday).

Leung Wing-bo, 64, Cheung Kwok-wing, 53, both partners of Sam Tai Construction Company (Sam Tai), were found guilty of two bribery offences.

Magistrate Mr Leo Chan adjourned sentencing until December 27 this year, pending background and medical reports on the defendants. Both Leung and Cheung were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The court heard that in 1995, Wing Mou Construction Company Limited (Wing Mou) was awarded a term contract by HyD to perform its works orders for maintenance of slopes in Shatin, Sai Kung and outlying islands.

Wing Mou subcontracted the works orders on Lantau Island to Sam Tai.

Between 1995 and 1996, Leung and Cheung had offered bribes to Hau Tak-shun, Works Supervisor I of HyD, on a number of occasions for expediting the certification of completion of work to claim interim payments from the Hong Kong Government.

On each occasion, $5,000 cash was paid to Hau.

In January 1997, Wing Mou was awarded another term contract by HyD.

Leung and Cheung set up another company - Regal Asia (Hong Kong) Ltd., which was subsequently awarded a subcontract by Wing Mou to handle HyD works orders on Lantau Island.

In 1997, Leung and Cheung had also offered Hau, who was then Assistant Inspector of Works of HyD, a series of $5,000 cash payments for the same reason.

The prosecution was today represented by Lam Shun-chiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Fung Siu-wai.