Ex-HKIC instructor and friend charged by ICAC in court for concealing conflict of interests in procurements
2026-5-4
A then Instructor of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC) and his friend appeared today (May 4) at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts for mention after being charged by the ICAC for allegedly concealing that a materials supplier was controlled by them to mislead their respective employers to secure purchase orders in procurement processes.
Li Zhichao, 34, then Technical Instructor of the HKIC; and Vincent Yiu Chi Chung, 32, supervisor of The Lab (Asia) Limited (The Lab), each faced one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The two defendants did not enter plea when they appeared in court today. The case was adjourned to June 30 for mention, and bail was granted to both defendants.
At the material time, Li was employed by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to teach welding courses at the HKIC. He was required to purchase materials in accordance with CIC’s procurement policy. On several occasions, he recommended Yue Chi (Hong Kong) Company Limited (Yue Chi) to the CIC for requesting quotations.
The charge alleged that between July and September 2023, Li had used documents containing false statements, namely computer inputs in the electronic procurement system of the CIC, which falsely represented that Li had no conflict of interest in relation to his recommendations for requesting quotations from Yue Chi, and intended to mislead the CIC.
At the material time, Yiu was a supervisor at The Lab, a local materials testing laboratory, and his responsibilities included the purchase of materials for the company. In July 2023, he recommended The Lab to include Yue Chi as one of its authorised vendors.
The charge alleged that between January and July 2024, Yiu used reports on conflict of interest containing false statements, which falsely represented that Yiu had no direct or indirect financial interest in any organisation with which The Lab had business dealings, and intended to mislead The Lab.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that the defendants were secondary schoolmates who established Yue Chi. The duo allegedly arranged for another secondary schoolmate to register as the sole shareholder-cum-director of Yue Chi to conceal their roles as its de facto owners and their interests in the company.
The investigation also revealed that at the material time, Yue Chi obtained two purchase orders from the CIC and ten from The Lab, involving a total sum of over $200,000.
The CIC and The Lab rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eddie Chu.
Li Zhichao, 34, then Technical Instructor of the HKIC; and Vincent Yiu Chi Chung, 32, supervisor of The Lab (Asia) Limited (The Lab), each faced one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The two defendants did not enter plea when they appeared in court today. The case was adjourned to June 30 for mention, and bail was granted to both defendants.
At the material time, Li was employed by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to teach welding courses at the HKIC. He was required to purchase materials in accordance with CIC’s procurement policy. On several occasions, he recommended Yue Chi (Hong Kong) Company Limited (Yue Chi) to the CIC for requesting quotations.
The charge alleged that between July and September 2023, Li had used documents containing false statements, namely computer inputs in the electronic procurement system of the CIC, which falsely represented that Li had no conflict of interest in relation to his recommendations for requesting quotations from Yue Chi, and intended to mislead the CIC.
At the material time, Yiu was a supervisor at The Lab, a local materials testing laboratory, and his responsibilities included the purchase of materials for the company. In July 2023, he recommended The Lab to include Yue Chi as one of its authorised vendors.
The charge alleged that between January and July 2024, Yiu used reports on conflict of interest containing false statements, which falsely represented that Yiu had no direct or indirect financial interest in any organisation with which The Lab had business dealings, and intended to mislead The Lab.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that the defendants were secondary schoolmates who established Yue Chi. The duo allegedly arranged for another secondary schoolmate to register as the sole shareholder-cum-director of Yue Chi to conceal their roles as its de facto owners and their interests in the company.
The investigation also revealed that at the material time, Yue Chi obtained two purchase orders from the CIC and ten from The Lab, involving a total sum of over $200,000.
The CIC and The Lab rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eddie Chu.