A project engineer is employed by a chemical product manufacturer to supervise the engineering works performed by its contractors.   Due to his job nature, he develops a close companionship with a contractor who has recently undertaken a gas tank repair project of the company.

Learning that the project engineer suffers from substantial loss in a recent stock investment, the contractor immediately offers to lend the project engineer $200,000 to help him overcome the financial difficulty.

When time comes for an inspection to be conducted for the gas tank repairing works, the contractor requests the project engineer to turn a blind eye to certain defects found in the finished works, saying that the defects can have little chance to pose a safety hazard.   He also reminds the project engineer of his generosity to him in the past.   The project engineer finds it difficult to require the contractor to rectify all the defects found in the works.

When receiving his company's instruction to design a computer software for a digital answering machine, a company's software engineer claimed that he was too busy to take up the job and recommended it to be contracted out to an outside software house which was owned solely by his former colleague.

The software house owner at first had no intention to undertake the job.  But the software engineer persuaded him to secure the job first and then sub-contract it back to the software engineer.  Using the software house as a disguise to deceive his own company, the software engineer could pocket $95,000 being 90% of the project fee while the rest would go to the owner.

Eva was a clever and efficient staff member working on a fixed-term contract in a large firm.  She could easily complete her assignments before the deadlines; but she preferred not letting other colleagues know about that because she did not want extra workload given to her and making other colleagues look less capable.  Being a fixed-term contract staff member, she understood that she would leave the firm at the end of the contract.  Hoping to make her mark one day and to secure future income, she was thinking the possibility of developing her side-business during the office hours by using the firm’s resources while pretending working on certain projects in the office. 

Eva thought to herself: it was not her fault that she was more efficient and capable than other colleagues.  She was only a fixed-term contract staff member and would leave the firm one day.  She needed to prepare herself for the future.

Was that justified for Eva’s secret plan?  What about the interest of the firm?  What factors does Eva need to consider before taking her course of action?

Felix, a production manager of a large toy factory, had two assistants, Gigi and Gordon.  Gigi was the favourite because she was a young charming lady and also a cousin of the General Manager while Gordon was not because he was brash and sometimes outright insolent.  They were both responsible for handling the overtime claims for workers on the toy production.  The Finance Department had complained to Felix a few times about Gigi and raised queries over some overtime claims forwarded by Gigi.  There were widespread rumours that Gigi might have overstated the overtime hours and even forged claims by using ghost workers.  Yet, Felix could not bring himself to ask Gigi for explanations but went easy on her by telling her to be more ‘prudent’ when handling the overtime claims in the future.  On the other hand, the Finance Department contacted Felix again but this time was about Gordon.  They had questions about some discrepancies on the hours of the overtime claims forwarded by Gordon.  However, Felix treated Gordon more strictly and was much firmer on the occasion.

Was Felix being equally fair to his assistants when handling the queries from the Finance Department?  Would it upset the General Manager if Felix was not kind to Gigi at work, which in return affected Felix’s work prospect?  How would it affect his professional image in the eyes of other colleagues?

A mechanical engineering company in Hong Kong had operated a factory in the Mainland.  Its production manager Mr. Wong was deployed to oversee the Mainland mechanical production process. Mr. Wong had worked in the company for eight years and won the praise and trust from his boss. Since some of the production procedures were subcontracted to other local manufacturers, Mr. Wong was also responsible for sourcing suitable factories and awarding the production orders. As such, Mr. Wong got acquainted with many other manufacturers, and was frequently invited to social activities after work. Two of them suggested offering him a kickback as a reward for placing more production orders and they would inflate the price of the orders to compensate the extra cost, i.e. the kickback to Mr. Wong. Succumbing to the temptations of monetary rewards, Mr. Wong accepted RMB575,000 in bribes and then deposited the bribe money into his bank account in Hong Kong

Would Mr Wong breach any laws? How could companies avoid such malpractices from happening?

Alexander was Manager of Planning in a real estate development firm and was responsible for recommending a contractor to conduct an environmental study.  He was considering Gamble, a small firm which had done outstanding work for the firm in the past.  Roy, a friend and representative of another larger environmental research firm, approached Alexander on the matter over a lunch appointment.  Alexander clearly stated that Gamble would possibly get the contract because of its satisfactory past performance, whereas Roy’s firm had a dozen other contracts to keep them busy.

Roy seemed disappointed but Alexander was glad when conversation turned to other topics.  Roy asked Alexander about the progress of his emigration plan.  In fact, Alexander’s wife, Zoe, had already gone to Canada with two sons to settle down first while Alexander would work a few more years in Hong Kong before joining them.  Roy mentioned casually that he had connections in Toronto and could help Alexander place his sons into the best local school though it might take some doing.  The school enjoyed a reputation for good results and easy access to the University of Toronto.  Alexander understood what Roy really meant.  He desperately wanted to make a head-start for his children and pave a smooth path for them.

Would Alexander commit any offence if he recommended Roy’s company in return for Roy’s help for his sons? What factors should Alexander consider when making the decision?

Karson, the Chief Engineer of a hotel, was assigned to oversee a $5 million renovation project for the hotel’s main lobby.  Kenneth, the proprietor of a construction company, was selected as the contractor for the renovation work.

During the traditional “God Worshipping” ceremony that marked the project’s commencement, Kenneth offered Karson a red packet of $30,000 as a token of gratitude for his assistance in awarding the contract.  Karson gratefully accepted the offer.

One month later, while inspecting the project’s progress, Karson noticed that the quality of the marble used in the lobby was substandard and did not meet the tender specifications.  Due to the tight schedule and cost implications, Kenneth was reluctant to replace the marble.  To cover up the issue, he proposed giving Karson a rebate of 2% of the project sum in exchange for Karson turning a blind eye to the substandard work.  Although bewildered by the offer, Karson verbally agreed to the arrangement to avoid damaging the harmonious working relationship with Kenneth.

Construction company A was planning to carry out a large-scale residential development project on a piece of land in the North East of the New Territories that was owned by the company. The company decided to select a contractor by open tender.

Mr Lee, one of the supervising officers of Company A, was responsible for overseeing the project. By virtue of his position, Mr Lee had access to the business secrets, including the quotation prices offered by other tenderers and recommendations given by the consultancy company.

During the tendering process, Mr Lee arranged to have a meeting with Mr Ho, who was employed by one of the tendering companies. Mr Lee claimed that he could disclose business secrets concerning the project to Mr Ho on the condition that Mr Ho’s company, after winning the contract, would pay him 2.5% of the project construction cost, which would bring him an estimated reward of HK$2 million.

Following disclosure of the bribery scam, Mr Lee was arrested and found guilty of corruption crime.

Upon her return to Hong Kong after a few years in the States, Sandy worked in La Fonda, an architect firm.  She had her first degree in Hong Kong but left for the US with her boyfriend soon after graduation.  Her performance in the firm was brilliant and the portfolios she submitted were excellent.  When her senior Kelly resigned, her unit head Antonio considered recommending Sandy for promotion to take up Kelly’s post.  Sandy was full of hopes.

Antonio was about to nominate Sandy. One evening, he was talking to his cousin Gamma who just returned from a long stay in the States. Gamma had been doing a doctoral programme in Architecture in the University of Vermont. Antonio causally mentioned to Gamma that his prize staff, Sandy, also worked on a second degree at the University of Vermont too.  Antonio thought that Gamma and Sandy might have met in the University because their years of study coincided. But, to Antonio’s astonishment, Gamma could not recall a Chinese lady studying Architecture during his seven years’ stay at the University, particularly as he worked part-time in the Registrar’s Office.  If Sandy had studied there, Gamma would have remembered her.

Antonio was flabbergasted and determined to look into the matter. When he went back to the office the next day, he sent for Sandy at once.  He asked Sandy if the credentials she submitted to the firm were in order. Sandy guessed what he was getting at and blurted out the truth.   

It was a sad story.  Sandy was about to be married to her boyfriend in US when she found out that he was dating another girl who could help him to get US citizenship. He tore her heart into pieces. After a few years of living only on the money sent from home, Sandy finally decided to turn over a new leaf and went back to Hong Kong.  She built up a portfolio of her own work which was in fact copied from overseas designers and made up an academic and professional history for herself.  Then she landed the job at La Fonda.

Antonio did not know what to do.  Should he expose the fraudulent past of Sandy?  Was it his duty to make sure that the firm was not cheated? Would this destroy the career of Sandy who had been a star in the firm?

Sandy had promised to work hard if Antonio kept her secret for her. Could Antonio do that with a clear conscience?