Hong Kong healthcare practitioner charged with bribery for allegedly offering nurse HK$1,000 for Covid vaccination record
- Health practitioner wanted nurse to give him Covid-19 vaccination record without first receiving jab
- Nurse refused and reported incident to employers, who cooperated with Independent Commission Against Corruption
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday said Cheung Chin-hang, a 25-year-old community health practitioner, allegedly attempted to bribe the nurse at Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Chung in September last year.
Cheung’s workplace was a government-designated healthcare premises subject to the city’s vaccine pass, which required people to receive a specific Covid-19 jab or possess a valid medical exemption certificate.
‘Geopolitical tensions could further hurt Hong Kong’s global corruption ranking’
The nurse declined Cheung’s offer and reported the matter to her company – Quality HealthCare Medical Services – which operated the vaccination centre at the sports ground.
The 25-year-old was charged with one count of offering an advantage to an agent. He was released on bail, pending an appearance at West Kowloon Court on Wednesday to enter a plea.
00:57
First inhalable Covid-19 vaccine available across China
Quality HealthCare and the Department of Health assisted the ICAC during the investigation.
Hong Kong government advisers ‘split’ over vaccine requirement for travellers
The scheme, aimed at raising the vaccination rate, required people to get inoculated if they wanted to enter premises such as hair salons, fitness centres, restaurants and healthcare facilities.
The pass was dropped on December 29 last year following a relaxation of epidemic control measures as the Covid-19 situation in the city showed signs of easing.
As of Monday, more than 93 per cent of the city’s eligible population had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and about 84 per cent had taken three shots.
