Seven Principal Hawker Control Officers of FEHD charged by ICAC guilty of MIPO over preferential treatments at recruitment
2025-4-30
Following ICAC’s prosecution of eight Principal Hawker Control Officers (PHCOs) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) with misconduct in public office (MIPO) by showing preferential treatments to certain candidates of the 2019 Recruitment of Assistant Hawker Control Officer (AHCO Recruitment 2019) without following the civil servants appointment policy, seven defendants were today (April 30) convicted after trial at the District Court while another defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge.
Li Tat-chiu, Tai Cheuk-fai, Danny Yick Kam-tim, Mak Wai-chung, Tang Wing-ping, Wong Wai-hung and Chan Kong-chung, aged between 61 and 67, were all PHCOs of the FEHD at the material time. They were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit MIPO, contrary to the Common Law and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Co-defendant, Lo Sai-wah, 63, earlier pleaded guilty to the charge.
Deputy Judge Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to May 16 for mitigation. The defendants were granted bail.
The court heard that in February 2019, the FEHD conducted the AHCO Recruitment 2019, receiving over 5,000 applications. In July and August 2019, around 2,100 shortlisted candidates were invited to attend a selection interview. Seven of the defendants, except for Chan, were selection board members of the recruitment responsible for different sessions of selection interview.
The civil servants appointment policy set by the Government stipulated that appointment should be made for the best person for the job in an open, fair and competitive manner. Upon receipt of a corruption complaint, the ICAC conducted an investigation, during which the FEHD had rendered full assistance. Enquiries revealed that some of the candidates or their relatives or acquaintances had privately forwarded their interview schedules to some FEHD officers, including the eight defendants in the present case.
Between July 11 and August 20, 2019, the defendants forwarded the interview schedules of candidates to Lo, who compiled and updated an “own buddies” list with interview schedules as “coordinator” and circulate it among the defendants with a view to facilitating those sitting in the selection board to accord preferential treatments to the candidates on the list.
The ICAC enquiries revealed that 36 out of some 950 candidates attending the selection interviews were named on the list circulated among the defendants. It was believed that some of the candidates had received extra marks at the selection interviews.
To ensure fairness of the AHCO Recruitment 2019, the FEHD had invalidated the results of the interviews conducted in July and August 2019 and held another round of interviews for candidates in November 2019.
An ICAC spokesperson notes the Commission has reviewed the relevant procedures of the FEHD and provided corruption prevention advice to stamp out malpractices in view of the present case. The ICAC has been working closely with the FEHD to provide regular integrity training to its staff members of different ranks, continuously deepening their understanding of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and the offence of MIPO.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Virginia Lau and Chris Kwan, assisted by ICAC officer Fiona Chan.
Li Tat-chiu, Tai Cheuk-fai, Danny Yick Kam-tim, Mak Wai-chung, Tang Wing-ping, Wong Wai-hung and Chan Kong-chung, aged between 61 and 67, were all PHCOs of the FEHD at the material time. They were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit MIPO, contrary to the Common Law and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Co-defendant, Lo Sai-wah, 63, earlier pleaded guilty to the charge.
Deputy Judge Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to May 16 for mitigation. The defendants were granted bail.
The court heard that in February 2019, the FEHD conducted the AHCO Recruitment 2019, receiving over 5,000 applications. In July and August 2019, around 2,100 shortlisted candidates were invited to attend a selection interview. Seven of the defendants, except for Chan, were selection board members of the recruitment responsible for different sessions of selection interview.
The civil servants appointment policy set by the Government stipulated that appointment should be made for the best person for the job in an open, fair and competitive manner. Upon receipt of a corruption complaint, the ICAC conducted an investigation, during which the FEHD had rendered full assistance. Enquiries revealed that some of the candidates or their relatives or acquaintances had privately forwarded their interview schedules to some FEHD officers, including the eight defendants in the present case.
Between July 11 and August 20, 2019, the defendants forwarded the interview schedules of candidates to Lo, who compiled and updated an “own buddies” list with interview schedules as “coordinator” and circulate it among the defendants with a view to facilitating those sitting in the selection board to accord preferential treatments to the candidates on the list.
The ICAC enquiries revealed that 36 out of some 950 candidates attending the selection interviews were named on the list circulated among the defendants. It was believed that some of the candidates had received extra marks at the selection interviews.
To ensure fairness of the AHCO Recruitment 2019, the FEHD had invalidated the results of the interviews conducted in July and August 2019 and held another round of interviews for candidates in November 2019.
An ICAC spokesperson notes the Commission has reviewed the relevant procedures of the FEHD and provided corruption prevention advice to stamp out malpractices in view of the present case. The ICAC has been working closely with the FEHD to provide regular integrity training to its staff members of different ranks, continuously deepening their understanding of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and the offence of MIPO.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Virginia Lau and Chris Kwan, assisted by ICAC officer Fiona Chan.