HD Surveyor arrested and charged for alleged misconduct and bribery
2003-11-18
A Maintenance Surveyor of the Housing Department (HD) was today (Tuesday) arrested and charged by the ICAC for alleged misconduct in public office and bribery in awarding maintenance contracts of various HD housing estates and shopping centres.
Irene Wong, 45, will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on nine counts of misconduct in public office under the Common Law, and two of public servant accepting an advantage contrary to Section 4 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Eight of the misconduct charges alleged Wong of wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted herself in respect of the award of government contracts in relation to maintenance projects at a number of HD housing estates and shopping centres.
The defendant had allegedly failed to declare a conflict of interest arising from her relationship with the operator, directors and shareholders of the companies which were awarded the contracts, namely Harbour Grow Holdings Limited (Harbour Grow), Hong K ong Building Products Limited (HKBPL), and Wo Loong Engineering and Construction Limited (Wo Loong), and showed improper partiality towards these companies.
The remaining misconduct charge alleged Wong of arranging for Fong Wing Shing Construction Company Limited (FWS) to submit a quotation for another maintenance contract on behalf of HKBPL, knowing that the latter was not eligible to do so and was not quali fied to be awarded the contract.
She was said to have recommended acceptance of the said quotation submitted by FWS and awarding the contract to the company.
Wong also faced two bribery charges which alleged her of accepting $198,800 in total from Chung tat-yan as rewards for using her position and influence to assist Harbour Grow, Wo Loong and HKBPL obtain maintenance contracts awarded by HD.
ICAC investigation alleged that Chung was in control of all the above mentioned companies, some of which Wong and her relatives were said to have an interest in.
The alleged offences took place between 1996 and 1999.
Wong has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance tomorrow.
Irene Wong, 45, will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on nine counts of misconduct in public office under the Common Law, and two of public servant accepting an advantage contrary to Section 4 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Eight of the misconduct charges alleged Wong of wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted herself in respect of the award of government contracts in relation to maintenance projects at a number of HD housing estates and shopping centres.
The defendant had allegedly failed to declare a conflict of interest arising from her relationship with the operator, directors and shareholders of the companies which were awarded the contracts, namely Harbour Grow Holdings Limited (Harbour Grow), Hong K ong Building Products Limited (HKBPL), and Wo Loong Engineering and Construction Limited (Wo Loong), and showed improper partiality towards these companies.
The remaining misconduct charge alleged Wong of arranging for Fong Wing Shing Construction Company Limited (FWS) to submit a quotation for another maintenance contract on behalf of HKBPL, knowing that the latter was not eligible to do so and was not quali fied to be awarded the contract.
She was said to have recommended acceptance of the said quotation submitted by FWS and awarding the contract to the company.
Wong also faced two bribery charges which alleged her of accepting $198,800 in total from Chung tat-yan as rewards for using her position and influence to assist Harbour Grow, Wo Loong and HKBPL obtain maintenance contracts awarded by HD.
ICAC investigation alleged that Chung was in control of all the above mentioned companies, some of which Wong and her relatives were said to have an interest in.
The alleged offences took place between 1996 and 1999.
Wong has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance tomorrow.