Then HKTDC Manager charged by ICAC sentenced for MIPO by divulging confidential tender information in $2.3m project to personal friend
2025-11-21
A then Assistant Business Manager of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) charged by the ICAC was today (November 21) sentenced to 3 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that she had committed misconduct in public office (MIPO) by divulging confidential tender information such as evaluation criteria and tender proposals to assist a personal friend to secure an online market platform enhancement project involving a total payment of over $2.3 million.
Leung Sui-ying, 38, then Assistant Business Manager, System & Content Development of the HKTDC, today pleaded guilty to one count of MIPO, contrary to Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong remarked that Leung committed the offence for the first time, and did not make any gain in the present case. Having considered she was suffering from a critical illness, a suspended sentence was imposed on her.
Between December 2018 and March 2019, the HKTDC was carrying out a website enhancement project for its online market platform – e-Marketplace. Leung was one of the staff members responsible for the project. She was required to prepare the relevant tender documents and the evaluation criteria, as well as to source potential vendors.
The court heard that the HKTDC invited four vendors to bid for the project. The project was subsequently awarded to AF Trinity Technologies Limited (ATTL), which obtained the highest overall score. The total payment of the project was over $2.3 million.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Leung had divulged the scope of work for the project to the director of ATTL, who was her personal friend, before the tender exercise started.
Leung admitted that she had divulged the evaluation criteria and explained the scoring mechanism to the ATTL director. In addition, she had divulged to the ATTL director the technical proposals submitted by three other bidders, and assisted the latter in the drafting and compilation of the technical proposal of ATTL and assisted in the preparation of the oral presentation of ATTL.
The employment contracts and code of conduct of HKTDC staff stipulated that staff members should not disclose any classified information of the HKTDC without authorisation.
The court also heard that the contract of the project prohibited subcontracting. But after ATTL was awarded the contract, Leung concealed from the HKTDC that ATTL would subcontract part of the project to another company at about $800,000.
Co-defendant Chow Hang-yip, 40, director cum shareholder of ATTL, faces one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission by another person of the offence of MIPO. Chow pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was adjourned to January 27, 2026 for a pre-trial review.
The HKTDC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that public officials should maintain a high standard of integrity and should not disclose confidential information without authorisation in exchange for benefits to themselves or others.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Gigi Ng.
Leung Sui-ying, 38, then Assistant Business Manager, System & Content Development of the HKTDC, today pleaded guilty to one count of MIPO, contrary to Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong remarked that Leung committed the offence for the first time, and did not make any gain in the present case. Having considered she was suffering from a critical illness, a suspended sentence was imposed on her.
Between December 2018 and March 2019, the HKTDC was carrying out a website enhancement project for its online market platform – e-Marketplace. Leung was one of the staff members responsible for the project. She was required to prepare the relevant tender documents and the evaluation criteria, as well as to source potential vendors.
The court heard that the HKTDC invited four vendors to bid for the project. The project was subsequently awarded to AF Trinity Technologies Limited (ATTL), which obtained the highest overall score. The total payment of the project was over $2.3 million.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Leung had divulged the scope of work for the project to the director of ATTL, who was her personal friend, before the tender exercise started.
Leung admitted that she had divulged the evaluation criteria and explained the scoring mechanism to the ATTL director. In addition, she had divulged to the ATTL director the technical proposals submitted by three other bidders, and assisted the latter in the drafting and compilation of the technical proposal of ATTL and assisted in the preparation of the oral presentation of ATTL.
The employment contracts and code of conduct of HKTDC staff stipulated that staff members should not disclose any classified information of the HKTDC without authorisation.
The court also heard that the contract of the project prohibited subcontracting. But after ATTL was awarded the contract, Leung concealed from the HKTDC that ATTL would subcontract part of the project to another company at about $800,000.
Co-defendant Chow Hang-yip, 40, director cum shareholder of ATTL, faces one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission by another person of the offence of MIPO. Chow pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was adjourned to January 27, 2026 for a pre-trial review.
The HKTDC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that public officials should maintain a high standard of integrity and should not disclose confidential information without authorisation in exchange for benefits to themselves or others.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Gigi Ng.