The ICAC arrested 22 people for corruption related to major building renovations, intercepting contracts worth over HKD 100 million

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is cracking down on large-scale renovation projects suspected of corruption and related illegal activities, involving seven housing estates and buildings across multiple districts in Hong Kong. A total of 22 individuals have been arrested, including directors and staff from four engineering consultancy firms and three contractors, as well as the chairpersons of the owners' corporations of some estates and buildings.

The operation involves large-scale renovation projects in three housing estates, three standalone residential buildings, and one industrial building, distributed across various regions in Hong Kong, including Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Tai Kok Tsui, San Po Kong, Kwun Tong, Sheung Wan, and Shau Kei Wan. The contract amounts range from HKD 2 million to over HKD 100 million, with a total value exceeding HKD 200 million. Among them, two projects valued at over HKD 100 million are still in the preparation stage, and the ICAC's enforcement actions successfully intercepted the awarding of the contracts.

The ICAC had previously received corruption complaints and, upon investigation, found that the accounts of some engineering consultancy firms and contractors were suspected of being falsified to conceal unusual income and expenditures. The investigation also revealed that one of the owners' corporation chairpersons was suspected of leaking confidential tender interview questions at the request of a bidding engineering consultancy firm, assisting the latter in successfully being hired as the consultant for the relevant projects