A hawker, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (Tuesday) that he had offered bribes of $19,000 to an employee of a cleaning contractor at a public housing estate for storage of his paraphernalia in its refuse collection point.

Huynh Huoi, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, while the prosecution offered no evidence to the other similar charge against him.

Deputy Magistrate Ms Jolie Chao Tsz-kwan adjourned the case to August 22 this year for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was remanded in custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a hawker selling noodles at Sheung Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O. His wooden cart and paraphernalia had been stolen a few times.

To prevent it from happening again, he offered $1,000 per month to an employee of Chun Wui Kee Company Limited (Chun Wui Kee), a cleaning contractor engaged by the Housing Department to collect refuse at the estate.

In return, the employee of Chun Wui Kee allowed the defendant to gain access to and use its refuse collection point to store his hawking paraphernalia.

Between January and June 2014, the defendant paid the employee of Chun Wui Kee $6,000 in total.

The court heard that after the employee of Chun Wui Kee resigned in July 2014, the defendant continued to pay the employee $1,000 per month for his continued use of the refuse collection point to store his hawking paraphernalia.

Between July 2014 and July 2015, the defendant paid the employee of Chun Wui Kee $13,000 in total, the court was told.

Chun Wui Kee had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Henry Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Harry Mok.