Ex-Estate Surveyor of HD and husband guilty of $4.9m housing allowance fraud
2020-1-7
A former Estate Surveyor of the Housing Department (HD) and her husband, charged by the ICAC, were today (January 7) convicted of fraud by making false declarations to deceive the Government into approving applications for Private Tenancy Allowance (PTA) totalling about $4.9 million for over 17 years.
Wong Shuk-chun, 60, former Estate Surveyor of the HD, and her husband Luk Tung-choi, 58, former department manager of Wing On Computer Systems Limited (Wing On Computer), were convicted of a joint charge of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
District Judge Mr Douglas Yau Tak-hong adjourned the case to next Wednesday (January 15) for mitigation and sentence. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Treasury. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that in June 1993, Wong was posted to the HD as Estate Surveyor. In 1994, Wong married Luk, who worked at Wing On Computer and was later promoted to department manager. In 1995, Wong became eligible to apply for PTA from the Government, subject to the rule against double housing benefit.
Between March 2000 and July 2017, Wong made nine applications for PTA by submitting nine application forms and nine “Statements on Housing and Housing Related Benefits Received by an Officer/His Spouse” (the statements).
Both Wong and Luk declared on the statements that Luk had not received and/or was not receiving any housing allowance from Wing On Computer, and that they had read and understood the rules on prevention of double housing benefits.
In 2000, the Director of Accounting Services demanded Wong to provide related proof. Wong replied in writing that Wing On Computer was not cooperative and refused to issue the required proof.
Afterwards, Wong submitted Luk’s tax return and reiterated that Luk had not received housing benefit from Wing On Computer. Wong’s application for PTA was then approved.
Relying on the information on the statements, the Director of Accounting Services approved all nine applications for PTA submitted by Wong, and had granted her PTA totalling about $4.9 million from March 2000 to July 2017.
The court heard that Luk in fact had been receiving housing benefit from Wing On Computer since 1989. In 2000, Wing On Computer had issued a letter to Luk confirming his receipt of housing allowance from the company.
The Treasury, the HD and Wing On Computer had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Arnold Lee.
Wong Shuk-chun, 60, former Estate Surveyor of the HD, and her husband Luk Tung-choi, 58, former department manager of Wing On Computer Systems Limited (Wing On Computer), were convicted of a joint charge of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
District Judge Mr Douglas Yau Tak-hong adjourned the case to next Wednesday (January 15) for mitigation and sentence. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Treasury. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that in June 1993, Wong was posted to the HD as Estate Surveyor. In 1994, Wong married Luk, who worked at Wing On Computer and was later promoted to department manager. In 1995, Wong became eligible to apply for PTA from the Government, subject to the rule against double housing benefit.
Between March 2000 and July 2017, Wong made nine applications for PTA by submitting nine application forms and nine “Statements on Housing and Housing Related Benefits Received by an Officer/His Spouse” (the statements).
Both Wong and Luk declared on the statements that Luk had not received and/or was not receiving any housing allowance from Wing On Computer, and that they had read and understood the rules on prevention of double housing benefits.
In 2000, the Director of Accounting Services demanded Wong to provide related proof. Wong replied in writing that Wing On Computer was not cooperative and refused to issue the required proof.
Afterwards, Wong submitted Luk’s tax return and reiterated that Luk had not received housing benefit from Wing On Computer. Wong’s application for PTA was then approved.
Relying on the information on the statements, the Director of Accounting Services approved all nine applications for PTA submitted by Wong, and had granted her PTA totalling about $4.9 million from March 2000 to July 2017.
The court heard that Luk in fact had been receiving housing benefit from Wing On Computer since 1989. In 2000, Wing On Computer had issued a letter to Luk confirming his receipt of housing allowance from the company.
The Treasury, the HD and Wing On Computer had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Arnold Lee.