Then HKUST Professor charged by ICAC for bribery over master’s programme admission
2026-3-17
The ICAC yesterday (March 16) charged a then Chair Professor of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for allegedly accepting $40,000 in bribe from a friend and offering red packets to two colleagues for assisting a student in the admission to a master’s programme of the HKUST. The friend was also charged with bribery.
Liu Hongbin, 63, then Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science of the HKUST; and his friend Priscilla Lam Pui-ling, 60, jointly face one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Liu further faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The two defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance for plea at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 18).
The offences took place between March and May 2025. At the material time, Liu was the Programme Director of the Master of Science in Environmental Health and Safety Programme. He was responsible for reviewing applications for the master’s programme and interviewing the applicants to determine admission.
One of the charges allege that Liu had accepted a bribe of $40,000 from Lam for assisting a student in the admission to the master’s programme for the academic year of 2025/26.
The other two charges allege that Liu offered red packets containing $5,000 and $1,000 respectively to two staff members of the Department of Ocean Science, who were responsible for the admission matters, for assisting the student in his admission to the programme and dealing with his admission. The two staff members refused to accept and reported the matter to the HKUST.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that Lam was requested to help the student in the admission to the master’s programme, after which she sought assistance from Liu. ICAC enquiries also revealed that the student did not meet the general requirements for admission to the programme and his application was eventually unsuccessful.
The HKUST rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Integrity is an important cornerstone of the education sector and is pivotal for developing Hong Kong into an international hub for higher education. The ICAC attaches great importance to upholding the integrity in the sector, and does not tolerate any acts that undermining integrity of the education sector. Tertiary education institutions (TEIs) should refer to the Corruption Prevention Guide on Admission of Students for TEIs published by the ICAC to strengthen their corruption prevention safeguards and enhance the transparency of their student admission processes.
Liu Hongbin, 63, then Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science of the HKUST; and his friend Priscilla Lam Pui-ling, 60, jointly face one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Liu further faces two counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The two defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance for plea at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 18).
The offences took place between March and May 2025. At the material time, Liu was the Programme Director of the Master of Science in Environmental Health and Safety Programme. He was responsible for reviewing applications for the master’s programme and interviewing the applicants to determine admission.
One of the charges allege that Liu had accepted a bribe of $40,000 from Lam for assisting a student in the admission to the master’s programme for the academic year of 2025/26.
The other two charges allege that Liu offered red packets containing $5,000 and $1,000 respectively to two staff members of the Department of Ocean Science, who were responsible for the admission matters, for assisting the student in his admission to the programme and dealing with his admission. The two staff members refused to accept and reported the matter to the HKUST.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that Lam was requested to help the student in the admission to the master’s programme, after which she sought assistance from Liu. ICAC enquiries also revealed that the student did not meet the general requirements for admission to the programme and his application was eventually unsuccessful.
The HKUST rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Integrity is an important cornerstone of the education sector and is pivotal for developing Hong Kong into an international hub for higher education. The ICAC attaches great importance to upholding the integrity in the sector, and does not tolerate any acts that undermining integrity of the education sector. Tertiary education institutions (TEIs) should refer to the Corruption Prevention Guide on Admission of Students for TEIs published by the ICAC to strengthen their corruption prevention safeguards and enhance the transparency of their student admission processes.