The ICAC has arrested 11 persons for alleged bribery in relation to a landslip preventive measures project awarded to a construction engineering company by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).

The arrestees in an operation code-named " Antarctic ", which commenced yesterday (Tuesday), were a site agent and a site engineer of the construction engineering company concerned, seven subcontractors, and two other individuals.

The investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that some staff of the construction engineering company might have accepted advantages from various subcontractors for showing favour to them.

In 2004, the construction engineering company was awarded by CEDD to run a landslip preventive measures project for slopes in various districts in Hong Kong.

The contracts of the project, valued at $74 million, were subsequently subcontracted to various construction firms, including the arrested subcontractors.

ICAC enquiries revealed that the arrested site agent and site engineer of the construction engineering company had allegedly accepted bribe payments, totalling $410,000, from those subcontractors.

In return, the arrested site agent and site engineer of the construction engineering company had allegedly showed favour to those subcontractors in awarding the contracts, and recommended the early release of contract payments to them.

CEDD has offered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

Enquiries are continuing.