The ICAC has charged six persons for allegedly defrauding the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) by circumventing the tendering process in connection with the supply of metallic gatesets to HA's housing projects.

The defendants are William Chan Cheu-hung, 56, and Wong Chun-hay, 49, respectively director and manager of Dynamic Mark Limited (Dynamic); Yu Chuen-wing, 53, director of Hip Tat Engineering Company Limited (Hip Tat); Hui Shun-tang, 45, director of Tien Sh an Engineering Limited (Tien Shan); Law Chung-for, 40, director of Sheen Harvest Industries Limited (Sheen Harvest); and Sit Kam-tai, 54, director of Shing Shun Engineering Factory (Shing Shun).

They will appear in Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on one count of conspiracy to defraud.

The defendants were earlier arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry.

At the time of the alleged offence, Dynamic, Hip Tat, Tien Shan, Sheen Harvest and Shing Shun were metallic gatesets suppliers approved by HA.

The charge alleges that between April 2, 1997 and September 13, 2000, the defendants had conspired together to defraud HA by dishonestly:

- submitting non-genuine quotations for the supply of gatesets to be incorporated into tenders to HA for the purpose of circumventing and defeating HA's tendering system;

- deceiving HA into accepting the non-genuine quotations in such tenders; and

- distributing equally amongst the gatesets suppliers the profits earned as a result of HA accepting the tenders with the non-genuine quotations.

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