Ex-AAHK Principal Manager gets four years’ jail for $3.3m bribery and money-laundering over Three-Runway System Project’s sub-contracts
2026-3-24
Following Operation “Blizzard”, the ICAC charged multiple defendants for allegedly offering and accepting bribes in relation to sub-contracts of the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport. A former Principal Manager of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes of about $3.3 million and laundering crime proceeds totalling about $5.7 million, was today (March 24) sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at the District Court.
Ricky Lee Wing-fai, 51, former Principal Manager of the AAHK, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and six counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as money-laundering), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Judge Mr Eddie Yip Chor-man imposed a four-year jail term on the defendant, having considered various mitigating factors. The ICAC had filed an application for confiscation, and the relevant hearing will be handled at a later date.
Between January 2017 and August 2022, Lee was responsible for managing various works contracts of the 3RS Project, including those for the main reclamation and the new runway. Lee was also authorised to recommend subcontractors to contractors. Carol Engineering Limited (CEL) was a main reclamation works sub-contractor of the 3RS Project, responsible for supplying filling materials and providing transportation services.
The court heard that Lee had accepted bribes totalling about $2.5 million from CEL proprietor Ng for assisting CEL to secure sub-contracts worth over $110 million. He had also accepted $800,000 in bribes from a supplier of sand for reclamation works to assist the latter to secure purchase orders worth over $140 million. In addition, Lee admitted that he had laundered crime proceeds totalling about $5.7 million, including the abovementioned bribes.
Three co-defendants of the case, Ng Kai-on, CEL proprietor; Rob Liu Wai-lun, then project manager of CEL; and Yin Kek-kiong, then General Manager of the AAHK, were earlier charged with multiple counts of bribery and related offences.
Liu earlier admitted that between May and July 2022, upon the instruction of Ng, he had offered Lee and a works manager of the main reclamation works contractor a bribe of $100,000 each to assist CEL to carry out the relevant works.
Ng had earlier indicated to the court that he would plead guilty to his charges, which alleged that he had offered bribes to Lee , Yin and three individuals from the main reclamation works contractor of the 3RS Project in relation to its sub-contracts.
The case of Liu and Ng was scheduled for September 7 at the District Court for sentencing and plea respectively. Meanwhile, the trial of Yin, who entered a not guilty plea to one count of bribery, will commence on the same day.
The present corruption case concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. The ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The AAHK had conducted a comprehensive review of all relevant documents and records, with no abnormalities or deficiencies identified.
In view of the present case, the ICAC has reviewed AAHK’s procedures of awarding and payment of works contracts and provided tailored corruption prevention advice. Meanwhile, the ICAC has strengthened the collaboration with the AAHK and implemented a comprehensive training programme for all of its new recruits and serving staff, ensuring that its staff fully understand the relevant laws and guidelines and remain vigilant against corruption risks.
The AAHK rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Noelle Aileen Chit, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.
Ricky Lee Wing-fai, 51, former Principal Manager of the AAHK, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and six counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as money-laundering), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Judge Mr Eddie Yip Chor-man imposed a four-year jail term on the defendant, having considered various mitigating factors. The ICAC had filed an application for confiscation, and the relevant hearing will be handled at a later date.
Between January 2017 and August 2022, Lee was responsible for managing various works contracts of the 3RS Project, including those for the main reclamation and the new runway. Lee was also authorised to recommend subcontractors to contractors. Carol Engineering Limited (CEL) was a main reclamation works sub-contractor of the 3RS Project, responsible for supplying filling materials and providing transportation services.
The court heard that Lee had accepted bribes totalling about $2.5 million from CEL proprietor Ng for assisting CEL to secure sub-contracts worth over $110 million. He had also accepted $800,000 in bribes from a supplier of sand for reclamation works to assist the latter to secure purchase orders worth over $140 million. In addition, Lee admitted that he had laundered crime proceeds totalling about $5.7 million, including the abovementioned bribes.
Three co-defendants of the case, Ng Kai-on, CEL proprietor; Rob Liu Wai-lun, then project manager of CEL; and Yin Kek-kiong, then General Manager of the AAHK, were earlier charged with multiple counts of bribery and related offences.
Liu earlier admitted that between May and July 2022, upon the instruction of Ng, he had offered Lee and a works manager of the main reclamation works contractor a bribe of $100,000 each to assist CEL to carry out the relevant works.
Ng had earlier indicated to the court that he would plead guilty to his charges, which alleged that he had offered bribes to Lee , Yin and three individuals from the main reclamation works contractor of the 3RS Project in relation to its sub-contracts.
The case of Liu and Ng was scheduled for September 7 at the District Court for sentencing and plea respectively. Meanwhile, the trial of Yin, who entered a not guilty plea to one count of bribery, will commence on the same day.
The present corruption case concerned the awarding of works and material supplies contracts, as well as administrative and financial matters. The ICAC enquiries did not reveal any issues involving the quality of works or specifications of materials. The AAHK had conducted a comprehensive review of all relevant documents and records, with no abnormalities or deficiencies identified.
In view of the present case, the ICAC has reviewed AAHK’s procedures of awarding and payment of works contracts and provided tailored corruption prevention advice. Meanwhile, the ICAC has strengthened the collaboration with the AAHK and implemented a comprehensive training programme for all of its new recruits and serving staff, ensuring that its staff fully understand the relevant laws and guidelines and remain vigilant against corruption risks.
The AAHK rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Noelle Aileen Chit, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.