Four then bank employees and intermediaries charged by ICAC with bribery over account opening
2025-6-26
Two then bank employees and two intermediaries were charged by the ICAC yesterday (June 25) for allegedly conspiring together to accept bribes totalling over HK$180,000 for assisting clients of the intermediaries to open bank accounts. An intermediary concerned also allegedly offered a bribe to another bank employee by similar corrupt means, but his offer was rejected.
Lo Cheuk-kim, 39, then premier relationship manager of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC); Wan Hui, 31, then premier business manager of HSBC, and two insurance agents cum intermediaries, Han Jie and his wife, Zhou Yinying, respectively 35 and 34, face two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage in total, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of POBO.
All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (June 30) for mention.
In April this year, Han, Zhou and Lo Wing-hang, former insurance specialist of HSBC, faced a holding charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage laid by the ICAC in relation to this bribery scam. While the case is also set for mention at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday, the prosecution will apply for consolidation of the two cases.
At the material time, Lo Wing-hang, Lo Cheuk-kim and Wan were posted to a branch of HSBC in North Point.
One of the charges alleges that between November 2022 and February 2025, Lo Wing-hang, Lo Cheuk-kim, Han and Zhou had conspired together for Lo Wing-hang and Lo Cheuk-kim to accept from Han and his wife bribes totalling over HK$170,000 for assisting clients of the couple to open bank accounts.
Another charge alleges that between October 2024 and February 2025, Wan, Han and Zhou had conspired together for Wan to accept from Zhou bribes totalling RMB6,000 for assisting clients of Han and Zhou to open bank accounts.
In February 2025, Han had allegedly offered a bribe of HK$500 for each bank account application to a relationship manager of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOC) by similar corrupt means for assisting clients referred by Han to open bank accounts with BOC. His offer was rejected by the bank employee.
ICAC investigation revealed that Han and Zhou had referred over 270 clients to the three co-defendants for bank account opening in a span of over two years.
HSBC and BOC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has long been providing integrity training for bank practitioners to deepen their understanding of relevant anti-corruption law and awareness of corruption risks. Banking regulators such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have always been supportive of ICAC’s continuous efforts to fortify the integrity culture of the banking industry. Last year, the ICAC, the HKMA and the Hong Kong Association of Banks jointly launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter to foster probity culture in the industry.
Lo Cheuk-kim, 39, then premier relationship manager of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC); Wan Hui, 31, then premier business manager of HSBC, and two insurance agents cum intermediaries, Han Jie and his wife, Zhou Yinying, respectively 35 and 34, face two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage in total, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of POBO.
All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (June 30) for mention.
In April this year, Han, Zhou and Lo Wing-hang, former insurance specialist of HSBC, faced a holding charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage laid by the ICAC in relation to this bribery scam. While the case is also set for mention at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday, the prosecution will apply for consolidation of the two cases.
At the material time, Lo Wing-hang, Lo Cheuk-kim and Wan were posted to a branch of HSBC in North Point.
One of the charges alleges that between November 2022 and February 2025, Lo Wing-hang, Lo Cheuk-kim, Han and Zhou had conspired together for Lo Wing-hang and Lo Cheuk-kim to accept from Han and his wife bribes totalling over HK$170,000 for assisting clients of the couple to open bank accounts.
Another charge alleges that between October 2024 and February 2025, Wan, Han and Zhou had conspired together for Wan to accept from Zhou bribes totalling RMB6,000 for assisting clients of Han and Zhou to open bank accounts.
In February 2025, Han had allegedly offered a bribe of HK$500 for each bank account application to a relationship manager of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOC) by similar corrupt means for assisting clients referred by Han to open bank accounts with BOC. His offer was rejected by the bank employee.
ICAC investigation revealed that Han and Zhou had referred over 270 clients to the three co-defendants for bank account opening in a span of over two years.
HSBC and BOC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has long been providing integrity training for bank practitioners to deepen their understanding of relevant anti-corruption law and awareness of corruption risks. Banking regulators such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have always been supportive of ICAC’s continuous efforts to fortify the integrity culture of the banking industry. Last year, the ICAC, the HKMA and the Hong Kong Association of Banks jointly launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter to foster probity culture in the industry.