Two former directors and a former site agent of a piling subcontractor were today (Monday) charged by the ICAC in connection with substandard piling works at two Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) housing blocks in Yuen Chau Kok, Shatin.

Chan Kwong-yee, 46 and Tom Yiu Yiu-nam, 44, both former directors of Hui Hon Contractors Ltd. (Hui Hon), and Li Wai-hang, 44, former site agent of Hui Hon, were granted bail by the ICAC, pending their appearance at Shatin Court at 9:30 am tomorrow (Tuesday).

The trio faces a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA).

Hui Hon, now defunct, was the piling subcontractor for the HOS construction project at Shatin Area 14B Phase 2.

The Housing Department earlier referred the case to the ICAC after piling tests at the site revealed serious discrepancies.

The defendants were amongst eight persons arrested in an ICAC operation in January last year.

They were accused of conspiring with Li Chi-him, Lau Tat-shing and others to defraud HKHA between April and December 1998, by dishonestly :

- constructing the bored piles for the foundation works of Block D and Block E at Shatin Area 14B Phase 2 otherwise than in accordance with the approved layout plans;

- falsely representing that the bored piles were constructed in accordance with the approved plans; and

- causing HKHA to pay for work done otherwise than in accordance with the approved plans.