Kai Tak site leader charged over bribes

The ICAC has charged a site team leader on the Kai Tak Hospital project with taking HK$75,100 in bribes from five imported electrical workers. Zeng Chusong, 52, of subcontractor Billion Best (E&M) Engineering, faces 10 counts of an agent accepting an advantage. He appeared at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts for mention on Thursday morning. The ICAC alleges that between September and November he accepted 10 bribes from the five workers, in return for helping them get jobs on the project. Their daily pay was HK$1,300. Fearing they would lose their jobs, they paid Zeng between HK$9,000 and HK$23,600. China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong), the main contractor, had applied under the Labour Importation Scheme for quotas used by its subcontractors, including the defendant and the five workers he referred to the site. An ICAC said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and will continue to collaborate with the Development Bureau and other stakeholders to prevent the recurrence of crimes similar to this case. "Construction workers who are solicited for bribes in exchange for employment should refuse immediately and report it to the ICAC," a spokesman said in a statement. Edited by Tony Sabine