Ex-Hong Kong deputy economic development secretary and Airport Authority boss charged with two counts of bribery over HK$510,000 property deal
Former Hong Kong Express Airways director Chan Ung-iok also charged in connection with 2004 payment made when Wilson Fung, husband of high-ranking official Betty Fung, was responsible for air traffic rights
A former deputy secretary who is the husband of a high-ranking Hong Kong official was charged with bribery on Friday for allegedly accepting HK$510,000 (US$65,000) from a Macau businesswoman who is a sister-in-law of gaming tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun.
Wilson Fung Wing-yip, 55, the former deputy secretary for economic development and labour, faces two charges of accepting an advantage after the city’s anti-corruption agency accused him of taking the money from Chan Ung-iok in 2004.
The husband of Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee, the head of the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Wilson Fung was said to have received half a million dollars from Chan, 62, who at the time was director and shareholder of Helicopters Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Express Airways Limited and Heli Express Limited.
According to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Wilson Fung, who was also the head of the Aviation Division of the Economic Development and Labour Bureau in 2004, was responsible for air service negotiations, designation of carriers and allocation of air traffic rights.
He is still the executive director of the Airport Authority’s Corporate Development, a post he has held since August 2010. On Friday, the authority suspended Wilson Fung with immediate effect.
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Chan, meanwhile, has been charged with offering an advantage to a public servant, and the pair will appear in the Eastern Magistracy next Tuesday for transfer to the District Court for plea.
“One of the charges alleges that on or about September 28, 2004, Wilson Fung, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted from Chan a sum of HK$510,000 as a reward for being or remaining favourably disposed to her or the three companies controlled by her or related to her,” the ICAC said in a statement.
In a statement, the ICAC said Wilson Fung accepted the money from Chan and used it as the initial deposit for the purchase of a property in Robinson Road, Mid-Levels.
The remaining charge accused Wilson Fung, a high-ranking civil servant, of failing to declare to the government his acceptance of the money, and also the possible conflict of interest in connection with his handling and processing of various applications by the three companies controlled by, or related to, Chan.
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He was also said to have failed to abstain from related deliberations and decision-making.
“According to the legal advice, there is insufficient evidence to prefer prosecution against other people involved in the investigation,” the ICAC added.
Wilson Fung and Chan were released on bail.
