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Patsy Moy

A rural leader was warned yesterday that he could face a prison term after he was found guilty of  stealing rocks from the Tung Chung River on Lantau.

In 2003,  hundreds of tonnes  of boulders were moved from the river to a site near the Disney park at Penny's Bay to  decorate an  ornamental lake.

Tung Chung Rural Committee chairman Law Kam-fai, 63, and his accomplice, Wong Yat-wah,  51, were each found guilty in the District Court on Monday of one count of conspiracy to defraud. Yesterday they were convicted of one count of conspiracy to steal stone, one count of removing stone from unleased land and one count of unauthorised excavation in unleased land.

Law was also convicted of an additional charge of conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice.

They had pleaded not guilty.

Deputy Judge Andrew Chan Hing-wai,  warning  Law that he could be jailed in view of the seriousness of the offences,  delayed sentencing until May 3.

Li Kwai-mo, 61, vice-chairman of Tung Chung Rural Committee, and  Mok Kwong-ming, 65, were each convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Law's defence counsel, Wong Man-kit,  said his client had made significant contributions to the development of Tung Chung.

Mr Wong also submitted to the court letters from legislators Lau Wong-fat,  Cheung Hok-ming  and  Lam Wai-keung,  who pleaded for leniency.

He said Law had acted as a mediator between the government and residents on major construction projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge.

Mr Wong said the offences had been an 'error of judgment and stupidity' on his client's behalf.

The prosecution said the group had falsely claimed there had been a flooding problem in the Tung Chung River in October and November 2003 and carried out illegal excavation work.

Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung said yesterday: 'I hope it [the damage of the river] won't happen again.' She said that with the help of various departments the river could be restored.



Rural leader may face jail over theft of Tung Chung boulders