Hong Kong Immigration Department looks into claim 2 senior officers got luxury hampers from developer China Evergrande
- Deputy director Benson Kwok and Chief Immigration Officer Jacky Wong reportedly received luxury Mid-Autumn Festival hampers from Evergrande director
- Security chief Chris Tang says Immigration Department will look into matter
Hong Kong immigration authorities are looking into reports that two senior officers received gift hampers worth more than HK$3,000 (US$384) each from embattled developer China Evergrande, the security minister has revealed.
The driver of an Evergrande director delivered Shangri-La hotel hampers to the homes of Deputy Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung and Chief Immigration Officer Jacky Wong on September 17, four days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, local media outlet Standnews reported.
It said each hamper, which included mooncakes, a bottle of champagne and abalone, was valued at HK$3,388, going by the hotel’s catalogue.
Under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, there is a cap of HK$3,000 on gifts a civil servant can accept from a personal friend or other people on a special occasion, or else approval from the authorities is required.
The driver of executive director and Hong Kong company general manager Huang Xiangui dropped off the hampers at the two officers’ doorsteps.
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A government source on Wednesday said the pair had been friends with Huang for years. They checked the hamper’s price online upon delivery and found there was a 15 per cent discount.
“Since the two officers do not have any business dealings with Huang and the gift value was under the cap ceiling, they did not seek approval from the immigration director,” the insider said.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the Immigration Department would look into the matter.
“I think [the two officers] have given accounts of the incident and that the Immigration Department is going to investigate. After the conclusion of the investigation, then we can comment further,” Tang said.
After his remarks, the Immigration Department said in a statement that the officers had informed the director immediately after receiving media inquiries on Sunday.
“Since there were no dealings in their official capacities, and the value of the gifts did not exceed relevant regulations, the concerned officers did not make any declaration. The follow-up [action] is in progress,” the statement said, adding the department attached great importance to staff conduct.
“If any officer is found to be involved in any unlawful acts or misconduct, the department will handle the matter seriously in accordance with the law and established procedures.”
In an earlier reply to Standnews, Kwok said the hamper was valued at HK$3,199 in 2020 and enjoyed an “early bird 15 per cent discount” so he believed the hamper would not cost more than HK$3,000 this year. A discounted hamper at the 2021 price would have cost HK$2,879.80.
“I’m friends with Huang. We do not have any business dealings nor conflict of interest. Therefore, I did not declare the hamper to the immigration director,” he said.
The outlet also carried a similar statement from Wong.
The Democratic Party expressed disappointment over the issue. Chairman Lo Kin-hei said it was suspicious the pair claimed they had no business dealings with the developer although they handled visa matters.
He urged the Independent Commission Against Corruption to initiate an investigation and disclose the findings to the public.
Shenzhen-based Evergrande, once the world’s largest developer by sales, is struggling under a mountain of debts. The Guangdong provincial government has stepped in to oversee its debt restructuring efforts.
