Hong Kong construction company manager charged with taking US$260,000 bribe

The Independent Commission Against Corruption Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (ICAC) alleged that Xu Wenju, 40, deputy general manager of China Railway 15th Bureau Group Company Limited (CR15), accepted the bribe for assisting the subcontractor in securing a slope and soil nail works contract.

Wenju and Ng Koon-shing, 60, operator of Hanki Contractors (Hong Kong) & Associates Limited, jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

Both of the accused have been released on ICAC bail pending an appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on 5 September.

Since May 2022, CR15 collaborated with another construction company to jointly manage a site formation and infrastructure works project of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) in the Tseung Kwan O (TKO) district of Hong Kong.

Xu, representing CR15, joined the management committee of the project to approve tenders submitted by subcontractors and handle relevant supervision matters.

The charge alleges that between July and November 2022, Xu and Ng conspired together for Xu to agree to accept a bribe of HK$2 million from Ng for assisting Hanki to secure the slope and soil nail works subcontract.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint.

It said that its enquiries revealed that Hanki would not have been invited to bid for the works had it not been recommended to the management committee of the project by Xu. After Hanki’s submission of its tender for the contract, Xu provided Hanki with advice and assistance during the tendering exercise. However, since Hanki was not the lowest bidder, it was not awarded the contract.

CR15 prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business.

ICAC added that the CEDD and CR15 “rendered full assistance” during its investigation.