Twelve former outdoor interviewers of a market research company were today (Wednesday) charged by the ICAC for allegedly falsifying interview records and questionnaires for a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

The defendants, formerly employed by ACNielsen (China) Limited (ACNielsen), will appear in Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on 12 counts of fraud and two of conspiracy to defraud ACNielsen in separate cases.

The defendants are: Chan Chui-yu, 33; Lam Wai-man, 38; Chan King-man, 25; Wong Shun-hang, 23; Ng Ken-dick, 23; Chan Pui-wai, 30; Wong Kai-leung, 26; Chan Hoi-yan, 25; Cheung Hiu-wan, 25; Wong Ka-yan, 27; Wong Wai-ho, 30; and Cho Sze-lai, 28.

They were arrested by the ICAC during a corruption investigation in July last year.

ACNielsen was earlier commissioned by HKTB to conduct a survey with departing visitors at the restricted area of the Chep Lap Kok Airport.

Chan Chui-yu and Lam are jointly charged with one count of conspiring together to defraud ACNielsen by:

- falsely representing that information contained in questionnaires for the departing visitors survey had been obtained by Lam from visitors inside the departure hall of the restricted area of the Airport and on the dates as shown on the questionnaires; and

- deceiving ACNielsen into paying Lam wages calculated at $40 per questionnaire.

Chan Chui-yu and Lam each further faces one count of fraud in relation to information contained in such questionnaires, alleging that she/he had induced ACNielsen to pay her/him wages.

Chan King-man is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud and one of fraud.

The remaining nine defendants each faces one similar alleged fraud offence.

The alleged offences took place between February and July 2002.

HKTB and ACNielsen had rendered full co-operation to the ICAC during its investigation.

All the defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.

The corruption inquiry is continuing.