Recent ICAC Cases
A then head of the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre (Rehabilitation Centre) of the CUHK Medical Centre (CUHKMC) was charged by the ICAC with fraud for allegedly making false representations that professional services such as consultations and procedures were personally provided to patients to defraud the CUHKMC of relevant professional fees. He also faces charges for disclosing the identity of persons under ICAC investigation and perverting the course of public justice.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a complaint lodged by the CUHKMC in August 2025, alleging that certain staff members had submitted services records containing false information to defraud the CUHKMC of money, contravening Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Following investigation and legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC yesterday (June 15) laid charges against Lau Mun-cheung, 65, then head of the Rehabilitation Centre and Consultant Physiotherapist of the CUHKMC; and Tang Lai-ting, 51, then Chief Human Resources Officer of the CUHKMC.
Lau faces six charges in total – one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance; one count of disclosing the identity, etc. of a person being investigated, contrary to section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and four counts of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law. Tang faces one count of disclosing the identity, etc. of a person being investigated. The duo were released on bail and their case will be mentioned at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 17).
At the material time, Lau was responsible for managing the operation of the Rehabilitation Centre and supervising approximately 20 physiotherapists. Under his employment contracts, Lau was entitled to receive professional fees from the CUHKMC for professional services, including consultations, procedures and operations, provided personally to patients.
The fraud charge alleges that between July 2021 and September 2025, Lau falsely represented to the CUHKMC that he had personally provided professional services to patients at the CUHKMC or its designated facilities, and with intent to defraud CUHKMC to pay him professional fees.
The ICAC investigation revealed that on various occasions during the abovementioned period, Lau instructed different physiotherapists to provide professional services to patients falsely booked under his name. In fact, Lau had never personally provided any professional services to those patients.
The two charges regarding the disclosure of the identity of a person being investigated allege that on the day the ICAC received CUHKMC’s complaint and the following day (i.e. August 26 and 27, 2025), Tang, knowing or suspecting that the ICAC was conducting a corruption investigation, disclosed to Lau that he was the subject of the ICAC investigation without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. Meanwhile, it is suspected that Lau illegally disclosed to two administrative staff members of the Rehabilitation Centre on August 27, 2025 that he was the subject of the ICAC investigation.
The remaining four charges allege that on various occasions between August and September 2025, Lau perverted the course of public justice by instructing four administrative staff members and two physiotherapists of the Rehabilitation Centre to mislead the ICAC in the corruption investigation, refuse interview invitations from the ICAC or destroy the evidence.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the CUHKMC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. In light of the issues identified in the present case, the ICAC has assisted the CUHKMC in reviewing relevant operational procedures and strengthening corruption prevention measures to enhance integrity management and guard against corruption and other malpractices.
A then employee of a property investment company and a renovation works contractor, charged by the ICAC for accepting and offering bribes totalling $1.3 million to show favour in relation to property renovation works, were respectively sentenced to 15 months and 14 months in prison at the District Court today (June 12) while the bribes involved were confiscated.
Mak Wing-chun, 51, then senior property officer of the leasing department of New Estate Company Limited (New Estate), was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. Mak had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Lee Shing-kan, 76, sole proprietor of Art Land Decoration Co. (Art Land), received a jail term of 14 months. Lee was convicted after trial of four counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin remarked that clean society is the cornerstone of the rule of law, once this foundation is eroded, fair competition would be undermined. The judge reprimanded Mak for abusing his authority to take bribes, breaching the trust placed in him by his employer and damaging the reputation of the company. The two defendants were equally culpable as Lee acceded to Mak’s bribe solicitations and proactively aided him.
Having considered the mitigating factors, Mak and Lee were respectively jailed for 15 months and 14 months. The Judge also ordered the confiscation of $1.2 million bribes offered to Mak by Lee.
The court heard that New Estate, a property investment company, owned and managed a portfolio of properties in Hong Kong for lease. At the material time, Mak was responsible for arranging and overseeing contractors to conduct renovation works at New Estate’s properties and certifying the completion of such works before releasing payments to contractors.
Between November 2020 and June 2022, New Estate had no internal procurement procedures in place, and inviting quotations or conducting tenders were not required when selecting contractors. During this period, New Estate awarded its renovation works to only two contractors. Art Land, one of these contractors, was awarded most of the renovation projects and received works payments totalling about $26 million over the course of one and a half years.
In mid-June 2022, New Estate’s management began requiring its leasing department to invite companies other than the two existing contractors to bid for renovation works when awarding contracts. While Art Land had been awarded numerous renovation projects, Mak informed its proprietor, Lee, of the new procurement requirements, alerting him that New Estate might have discovered that the cost of its works was far above the prices submitted by new bidders.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that on various occasions, Lee had offered bribes totalling $1.3 million to Mak for showing favour to him regarding arrangements and supervision of renovation works. Mak used some of the bribes to settle payments for his newly-purchased residential flat.
New Estate rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Chung, assisted by ICAC officer Timothy Wu.
New Estate rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Chung, assisted by ICAC officer Timothy Wu.
The ICAC and the Office of the Comptroller General of Brazil (CGU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday (June 10) at the ICAC Headquarters to strengthen cooperation in combating corruption.
The MoU was signed by ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming and Secretary for Private Sector Integrity of the CGU, Mr Marcelo Pontes Vianna. In the bilateral meeting held by the two parties on the same day, Mr Woo expressed his wish to enhance collaboration with CGU and strengthen cooperation and training with Brazil as well as the neighbouring countries by positioning Brazil as an anti-corruption hub in Latin America. The ICAC also looked forward to further enhancing graft-fighting cooperation and experience exchange with Portuguese-speaking countries and regions including Brazil, Portugal and Macau, so as to jointly advance anti-corruption capabilities.
Mr Woo, also the President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), noted that the IAACA was an international anti-corruption platform dedicated to anti-corruption advocacy and exchange. While the IAACA had adopted a regional anti-corruption approach in recent years, both parties could leverage this platform in enhancing graft-fighting effectiveness.
Mr Pontes Vianna said that Brazil and neighbouring countries had been committed to learning and applying technologies and artificial intelligence in anti-corruption work and addressing challenges posed by organised corruption. By gaining a deeper understanding of the ICAC’s successful three-pronged strategy comprising law enforcement, prevention and education and learning from the ICAC's successful experience of over half a century, he anticipated that the sustainable collaboration would benefit the integrity development of both Brazil and its neighbouring countries.
Since 2024, the two agencies have maintained collaboration to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and capabilities in both jurisdictions, including exchanging views on global graft fight in the Executive Committee of the IAACA. In February 2024, the CGU took part in an international anti-corruption training programme organised by the ICAC – the “Professional Development Programme on Financial Investigation and Asset Recovery” – to deepen understanding on the anti-corruption regime and the rule of law in Hong Kong. Last March, the ICAC sent officers to Brazil to host the “Capacity Building Programme for the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union, Brazil”, sharing the Commission’s anti-corruption strategies and enforcement experience.
After signing the MoU, both parties would strengthen the sharing and exchange of experiences and information in anti-corruption, investigation and asset recovery, collaborate in organising trainings, seminars, workshops and conferences, as well as promote integrity and transparency in both the public and private sectors.
The Police and the ICAC today (June 10) laid charges against seven individuals (five men and two women, aged between 33 and 60) and two companies with a total of 25 counts of offences, including manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, “money laundering”, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion in relation to the fire which broke out at Wang Fuk Court on November 26, 2025. The two cases were mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts this afternoon.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is highly concerned about the Wang Fuk Court fire, including the relevant criminal investigations. Following the disaster, the Police and the ICAC swiftly set up the largest joint investigation task force in recent years to conduct comprehensive investigations in full swing within just six months into the causes of the fire and possible corruption in the major renovation project of the residential estate, arresting a total of 35 individuals to date.
Following thorough investigations by officers of the joint investigation task force and legal advice from the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Police and the ICAC today laid charges against seven individuals and two companies with a total of 25 offences. The Police charged three men and two companies jointly with five counts of manslaughter. Meanwhile, the ICAC charged five men, two women and two companies (including the three men and two companies charged by the Police), with a total of 20 offences, including conspiracy to defraud, “money laundering”, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion.
The seven individuals played different roles in the major renovation project of Wang Fuk Court. They include directors and Registered Inspector of the project consultancy firm, and directors of the main contractor. The two companies charged are the project consultancy firm – Will Power Architects Company Limited (Will Power), and the main contractor – Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., Limited (Prestige) involved in Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project.
The Police’s prosecution list:
1. Ho Kin-yip, then director and Technical Director of Prestige;
2. Ng Yeuk, then director and Registered Inspector of Will Power;
3. Wong Hap-yin, director of Will Power;
4. Prestige; and
5. Will Power.
The ICAC’s prosecution list:
1. Wong Hap-yin, director of Will Power;
2. Hau Wa-kin, director of Prestige;
3. Ho Kin-yip, then director and Technical Director of Prestige;
4. Ng Yeuk, then director and Registered Inspector of Will Power;
5. Hung Kwok-wai, friend of Wong Hap-yin;
6. Chung So-fan, wife of Wong Hap-yin;
7. Li Min, employee of Will Power;
8. Will Power; and
9. Prestige.
The Police laid charges against three individuals and two companies with jointly five counts of manslaughter
On June 10, 2016, Wang Fuk Court received a statutory notice under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme. In this connection, through respective tendering processes, Will Power was appointed for preparing a building inspection report and monitoring the repair works; Prestige was appointed for carrying out the prescribed repair works.
Following careful study of the case details and a comprehensive review of numerous documents and statements from parties concerned, the Police revealed that the companies and persons-in-charge responsible for the major renovation project are suspected of serious breach of duty of care, resulting in gross negligence in the supervision of construction materials and procedures. Investigation revealed that issues arising from the repair works include the use of non-fire-retardant safety nets and canvases; the use of flammable foam boards; and the creation of window openings at the fire escape routes of staircases for workers’ access to the external wall scaffolding. These construction arrangements are suspected of severely compromising the fire safety of the buildings, causing the fire to spread rapidly and obstructing escape routes, resulting in a large number of causalities.
The Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North of the Police is responsible for the investigation of the case. Following legal advice from the DoJ, the Police today charged the three men and the two companies jointly with five counts of manslaughter.
The first defendant, Ho Kin-yip, was then director and Technical Director of Prestige; the second defendant, Ng Yeuk, was then director of Will Power and Registered Inspector for the project; the third defendant, Wong Hap-yin, is the director of Will Power; the fourth and fifth defendants are Prestige and Will Power respectively. The five defendants are suspected of failing to fulfill the duty of care in the supervision of the overall repair works, and ensure that the materials and work procedures complied with the safety standards or relevant legislations, resulting in the rapid spread of fire and severe casualties.
The ICAC laid charges against seven individuals and two companies with 20 counts of conspiracy to defraud, “money laundering”, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion
After the Wang Fuk Court fire, the ICAC set up a task force to launch a full investigation into possible corruption in the residential estate’s major renovation project. The task force gathered evidence from multiple sources and achieved breakthroughs, discovering fraudulent practices across various stages of the project. Some individuals are also suspected of laundering crime proceeds derived from alleged corruption.
Based on the evidence currently gathered and pursuant to legal advice from the DoJ, the ICAC today laid charges against seven individuals, Will Power, the project consultancy firm in Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project, and Prestige, the main contractor for the project, with a total of 20 offences. These comprise three counts of conspiracy to defraud, five counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as “money laundering”), two counts of attempting to do an act tending or intended to pervert the course of public justice, and 10 counts of offences relating to tax evasion.
The charges mainly cover four areas: (1) fraud in tendering process; (2) fraud in project supervision; (3) “money laundering” by project consultancy firm’s director; and (4) attempting to pervert the course of public justice in ICAC’s investigation.
Area 1: Fraud in the tendering process of Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project
(involving two counts of conspiracy to defraud)
One of the charges alleges that between May 2023 and April 2024, during the tender exercise for Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project, Will Power’s director Wong Hap-yin, two directors of Prestige, Hau Wa-kin and Ho Kin-yip, as well as Will Power and Prestige conspired together to defraud the Incorporated Owners and flat owners of Wang Fuk Court by concealing the litigation records of Prestige in the preceding eight years and inflating the score given to Prestige in the tender analysis report, thereby inducing flat owners of Wang Fuk Court to vote for Prestige and causing Prestige to be awarded the major renovation project at a contract sum of over $300 million.
Another charge alleges that during the same period, Will Power’s director Wong Hap-yin, Will Power and an employee of the company conspired together to defraud the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) by causing a tender analysis report containing false information to be published onto the URA’s electronic platform for access by flat owners of Wang Fuk Court, facilitating the award of the major renovation project.
Area 2: Fraud in project supervision at Wang Fuk Court and other estates
(involving one count of conspiracy to defraud)
Another charge relates to 86 building maintenance projects conducted by Will Power between August 2023 and November 2025, including that of Wang Fuk Court. It is alleged that Will Power and its director Wong Hap-yin and Registered Inspector Ng Yeuk, as well as Wong Hap-yin’s friend Hung Kwok-wai conspired together to defraud the Buildings Department and the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau by falsely representing that Ng Yeuk would carry out or had carried out his statutory duties to inspect and supervise the 86 projects, and signed some of the relevant reports under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme. In fact, Ng Yeuk had not duly carried out his statutory duties as Registered Inspector.
Area 3: “Money laundering” by project consultancy firm’s director
(involving five counts of “money laundering” and 10 counts of tax evasion)
In the past six years between 2019 and 2025, Will Power secured project consultancy contracts for multiple housing estates, including Wang Fuk Court. The five “money laundering” charges allege that during this period, Will Power’s director Wong Hap-yin, his wife Chung So-fan and Will Power’s employee Li Min dealt with various sums of crime proceeds suspected to be originated from corruption involving cash totalling over $40 million through Will Power’s bank accounts and their personal bank accounts. Most of the cash deposited into Will Power’s account was not supported by business records or receipts explaining their sources.
Ten other charges against Wong Hap-yin and Will Power allege that Will Power evaded tax for the years of assessment 2022/23 and 2024/25 by making false statements in the tax returns regarding the company’s turnovers and false accounting, etc.
Area 4: Attempting to pervert the course of public justice in ICAC’s investigation
(involving two counts of attempting to pervert the course of public justice)
The two remaining charges allege that Hung Kwok-wai attempted to pervert the course of public justice. It is alleged that on November 27, 2025, after the ICAC announced it had launched a criminal investigation into Wang Fuk Court’s major renovation project, Hung Kwok-wai and Will Power’s director Wong Hap-yin concealed a bag containing cash of totalling $600,000 (suspected to be part of the bribes offered by Prestige to Wong Hap-yin), and incited Ng Yeuk to make false representations to the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau.
The two cases were adjourned to September 2, 2026 for mention at the West Magistrates’ Courts. As the relevant investigations by the Police and the ICAC are continuing, further law enforcement actions would not be ruled out.
The National Commission of Supervision (NCS) and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) co-hosted the anti-corruption workshop on “Promoting Integrity for Economic Prosperity” for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hong Kong, China. Commencing today (June 9), the two-day workshop drew participation of over 150 representatives from various member economies and international organisations and institutions to foster exchange and discussion on promoting integrity for economic prosperity and pave way for establishing network of practical cooperation.
Delivering his opening address, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Vice Chairman of the NCS Mr Fu Kui said, “China remains steadfast in its commitment to exercising full and strict governance over the Party and resolutely fighting corruption. Under the centralised and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has successfully blazed a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of corruption, and ensures that officials dare not, cannot, and will not commit corruption, actualizing the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. While this year marks the ‘China Year’ of APEC and the first year of the motherland’s 15th Five-Year Plan, as an active participant and contributor, China stands ready to deepen law enforcement and judicial cooperation so as to join hands with all parties to enhance mutual learning and practical cooperation, uphold zero tolerance towards corruption, and foster integrity. So that the fruitful outcomes of ‘Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together’ can be shared by the people across the Asia-Pacific region,”
ICAC Commissioner Mr Woo Ying-ming also remarked that the workshop brought together experts with diversified backgrounds who shared a clear and meaningful common objective – to build trust, improve business environment and promote fair development through integrity. “Integrity is not the concern of one economy alone, but the shared responsibility of all. The overwhelming participation in the workshop jointly organised by the NCS and the ICAC demonstrates a resolute commitment in fighting corruption and promoting development. The anti-corruption strategy of Hong Kong, China, which combines law enforcement, systemic prevention and community education, is internationally recognised. The ICAC will continue to uphold integrity and leverage the “Lion Rock Spirit” – resilience, unity and perseverance – to build trust, stability and lasting prosperity,” Mr Woo added.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, Mr Paul Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Justice, noted that Hong Kong, China was an international financial, trading and shipping centre, as well as one of the least corrupt places in the world renowned for its strong rule of law. Hong Kong, China’s journey in the past few decades showed how integrity has contributed to sustainable social development and economic prosperity. While each economy would need to find its own way to promote integrity for advancing social and economic prosperity by reference to its own peculiar circumstances, knowledge and experience sharing among economies were necessary. Hong Kong, China stood ready to serve a good companion with other economies to fight the never-ending journey.
In the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts Working Group Workshop, Dr Kelvin Wong Tin-yau, Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission and Chairman of the ICAC Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee, and Ms Delphine Schantz, Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were invited to share their insights on how integrity shaped economic stability and development in their keynote speeches. Other discussion sessions included “Strengthening integrity for better livelihoods”, “Building stronger financial systems through integrity” and “Promoting cross-border investment and trade with integrity”.
Attending the workshop were anti-corruption and law-enforcement officials from 14 member economies, namely Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam, as well as representatives from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the International Anti-Corruption Academy, the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, the UNODC and graft fighters from other economies. The workshop also attracted various local law enforcers, business elites and academics.
Echoing the APEC “China Year”, participants gained the opportunity to experience Chinese culture by visiting the “Giant Panda Adventure” in Ocean Park Hong Kong to learn about the ecology of giant pandas.
Following the workshop, the ICAC will invite participants to the ICAC Headquarters tomorrow (June 10) for in-depth exchanges on the Commission’s latest developments and initiatives in law enforcement, prevention, education, and international liaisons.
