A former restaurant waiter, who bluffed about his "corrupt" connection with housing officials to cheat public housing applicants out of $72,000, admitted deception offences at North Kowloon Court today (Friday).

Lam Shu-wai, 67, pleaded guilty to six counts of obtaining property by deception.

Magistrate Mr Kevin Browne adjourned sentencing until November 2, pending a background report.

The magistrate ordered to remand the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department pending sentencing because of the seriousness of the offences.

Lam was a waiter at a restaurant in Shamshuipo when the offences took place between 1995 and 1996.

Cheng Tak-kwan, who was a regular customer of the restaurant, told the defendant that he had applied to the Housing Department (HD) for a unit in Un Chau Estate, Shamshuipo.

Lam claimed that he had a nephew working in HD, who could assist him in obtaining a unit of his choice for a reward of $25,000.

Cheng subsequently paid Lam $25,000 in total by three instalments.

Cheng also told his friend, Ng Kin-yee, who also applied for a public housing unit in the same estate, of Lam's proposal.

Ng later gave two cash payments of $10,000 and $15,000 to the defendant through Cheng.

Cheung Hin-shing, who also learnt about the arrangement, gave the defendant $22,000 through Cheng.

The court heard that Cheng, Ng and Cheung all were not allocated housing units in Un Chau Estate after paying the "bribes".

When Lam was arrested by the ICAC in July this year, he admitted in a cautioned interview that it was simply a con as he had no relative working in HD.

Lam also claimed that he had lost all the money he swindled at gambling in Macau.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Winnie Ho, assisted by ICAC officer Alan Kwok.