Reclamation works sub-contractor charged by ICAC admits $5.9m bribery in Airport Three-Runway System Project

Following Operation “Blizzard”, the ICAC earlier charged multiple defendants with bribery over sub-contracts of the Three-Runway System Project (3RS Project) of the Hong Kong International Airport. A reclamation works sub-contractor today (September 7) admitted at the District Court that he had offered a total of over HK$5.9 million in bribes to a then General Manager and a then Principal Manager of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), as well as staff of a main contractor, concerning works sub-contracts and materials purchase orders worth about HK$430 million in total.

Ng Kai-on, 69, proprietor of Carol Engineering Limited (CEL), a sub-contractor of the 3RS Project, pleaded guilty to five charges – two of conspiracy for a public servant to accept advantages, two of offering advantages to an agent and one of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, contrary to sections 4(2)(a) and 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

Rob Liu Wai-lun, 58, then project manager of CEL, also appeared at the District Court for mention today. He had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer an advantage to a public servant and one of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent.

Judge Mr Eddie Yip Chor-man adjourned the sentencing of the two defendants to March 5, 2027, and extended their bail. The ICAC had filed an application for the confiscation of Ng’s crime proceeds, and the relevant hearing will be held at a later date.

At the material time, CEL was a main reclamation works sub-contractor for the 3RS Project, responsible for supplying filling materials and providing transportation services. A General Manager employed by the AAHK on short-term contracts assisted in managing and supervising works contracts of the 3RS Project, including those for the main reclamation. He was authorised to recommend sub-contractors to the AAHK and main contractors. Ricky Lee Wing-fai, then Principal Manager of the AAHK, was responsible for inspecting and checking project materials supplied by sub-contractors and their works quality, as well as instructing main contractors to release works payments to sub-contractors.

The court heard that between January 2018 and July 2022, on various occasions, Ng had bribed staff members of the AAHK and a main reclamation works contractor in relation to the sub-contracts of the 3RS Project, including Lee.

Ng admitted that he offered to an employee of the AAHK a bribe of RMB630,000, equivalent to approximately HK$720,000, which was used to purchase a residential property on the Mainland. Ng had also offered bribes totalling about HK$2.5 million to Lee.

Regarding the main reclamation works, Ng admitted to offering bribes of HK$2.3 million and HK$300,000 respectively to a project manager and a deputy general manager of the contractor; he also instructed Liu, then project manager of CEL, to offer a bribe of HK$100,000 to a works manager.

As a result, CEL secured several sub-contracts and materials purchase orders under the main reclamation works, as well as a sub-contract for the third runway concourse foundation works, worth a total of about HK$430 million. CEL was also favoured by the main reclamation works contractor, and requested the contractor to release works payments.

Ricky Lee Wing-fai, then Principal Manager of the AAHK, who had earlier pleaded guilty to accepting bribes of about HK$3.3 million and laundering crime proceeds totalling about HK$5.7 million, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment at the District Court. The court also ordered the confiscation of crime proceeds totalling about HK$6 million from him.

The AAHK rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong and Public Prosecutor Derrick Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Jessie Fu.