The former chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB), charged by the ICAC for alleged misconduct in public office over liquor licence applications, appeared in Western Magistracy this (Tuesday) morning.

Wong Hon-ching, 50, a serving Wanchai District Councillor and a cost engineer by profession, faced one count of misconduct in public office, contrary to the Common Law.

No plea was taken. Magistrate Mr Timothy Jenkins adjourned the case until May 20, 2003, pending transfer to District Court.

Wong was granted cash bail of $20,000. He was also ordered not to leave Hong Kong, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint.

Wong was alleged to have wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself between January 2000 and December 2001 in relation to his public office as LLB chairman, in that he:

- engaged in discussions with liquor licence applicants prior to the convening of LLB meetings during which applications of the said applicants would be considered;

- caused the liquor licence applicants to believe that their applications might benefit if Yu Mei-lin was instructed as their legal representative;

- improperly provided internal documents of LLB to Yu which were confidential in nature; and

- failed to abstain from the decision making process in respect of those liquor licence applications before LLB, which Yu acted as the applicants' legal representative.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Steven Lam.