Sai Kung small house applicant charged by ICAC with conspiracy to defraud Lands Department over ‘Ding Right’
2024-10-22
The ICAC today (October 22) charged a small house applicant for allegedly conspiring with a developer to sell his “Ding Right” and deceive the Lands Department into granting him a building licence for a small house in Sai Kung.
Wong Wing-hong, 49, indigenous inhabitant of Sai Kung, faces one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (October 24) for plea.
According to the New Territories Small House Policy, every male indigenous inhabitant of the New Territories aged 18 or above may exercise his “Ding Right” once and apply to the Lands Department for building a small house within a recognised village of the New Territories for his own occupation. A “Ding Right” is not transferrable.
The alleged offence took place between September 1998 and February 2023. The defendant was an indigenous inhabitant of Sheung Sze Wan Village in Sai Kung. He applied for building a small house in the village with the Lands Department. On various occasions, he submitted a number of documents to the Lands Department and met with its officers.
It is alleged that the defendant had conspired with a developer to falsely represent to the Lands Department that during the period of his application for building a small house, the defendant was the sole owner of the respective lots of land located at Sheung Sze Wan Village; and had no intention to sell and never sold his “Ding Right” to other individual or a developer. He also falsely represented that he had never entered into any agreement or arrangement with others to transfer or otherwise deal with the respective lots of land or relevant interest.
By making the false representations, the defendant had allegedly deceived the Lands Department into approving him to build a small house.
The ICAC investigation, arose from a corruption complaint in relation to selling “Ding Rights”, revealed that the defendant had allegedly transferred his “Ding Right” to the developer. He was suspected to have reached an agreement with the developer that the developer would construct the small house for him. Upon completion, the defendant would obtain one storey of the small house, whereas the ownership of the remaining two storeys belonged to the developer. The small house concerned was completed in 2021.
The Lands Department offered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
Wong Wing-hong, 49, indigenous inhabitant of Sai Kung, faces one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (October 24) for plea.
According to the New Territories Small House Policy, every male indigenous inhabitant of the New Territories aged 18 or above may exercise his “Ding Right” once and apply to the Lands Department for building a small house within a recognised village of the New Territories for his own occupation. A “Ding Right” is not transferrable.
The alleged offence took place between September 1998 and February 2023. The defendant was an indigenous inhabitant of Sheung Sze Wan Village in Sai Kung. He applied for building a small house in the village with the Lands Department. On various occasions, he submitted a number of documents to the Lands Department and met with its officers.
It is alleged that the defendant had conspired with a developer to falsely represent to the Lands Department that during the period of his application for building a small house, the defendant was the sole owner of the respective lots of land located at Sheung Sze Wan Village; and had no intention to sell and never sold his “Ding Right” to other individual or a developer. He also falsely represented that he had never entered into any agreement or arrangement with others to transfer or otherwise deal with the respective lots of land or relevant interest.
By making the false representations, the defendant had allegedly deceived the Lands Department into approving him to build a small house.
The ICAC investigation, arose from a corruption complaint in relation to selling “Ding Rights”, revealed that the defendant had allegedly transferred his “Ding Right” to the developer. He was suspected to have reached an agreement with the developer that the developer would construct the small house for him. Upon completion, the defendant would obtain one storey of the small house, whereas the ownership of the remaining two storeys belonged to the developer. The small house concerned was completed in 2021.
The Lands Department offered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.