Property services officers arrested

Seven Architectural Services Department staff have been arrested in connection with a suspected corruption racket involving the maintenance of government buildings.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption also took in a further 15 property services officers from the department to help with inquiries. Dozens of anti-graft officers seized documents and computer equipment in a raid.

The department confirmed yesterday that 22 site supervisory officers from its property services branch had been taken from its Hunghom office on Tuesday. Seven of them were later arrested.

The 22 officers were from the 600-strong property services branch, which monitors contractors involved in the maintenance of government buildings. The seven arrested were suspected to have breached anti-bribery laws in their dealings with the contractors. An ICAC spokesman declined to comment on the case yesterday.

A project manager from the Architectural Services Department, Li Ho-kin, said the department was waiting for more information from the ICAC and it was too early to tell if the contractors involved would be suspended.

'It depends on the seriousness of the case. We have not been told which contractors are involved yet,' he said. The department would now review its work with the ICAC.

'We've been in close contact with the ICAC for advice on our tendering and supervision procedures,' Mr Li said.

He said the arrests would not affect the work of the property services branch.