Hong Kong’s ICAC charges team leader of Kai Tak Hospital subcontractor over extortion

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has charged a subcontractor’s team leader for allegedly extorting more than HK$75,000 (US$9,600) from five electrical workers at the Kai Tak Hospital site, vowing to work with the government to strengthen protections for imported labour.

According to an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) statement on Thursday, Zeng Chusong, the 52-year-old site team leader from Billion Best (E&M) Engineering Company, faced 10 counts of an agent accepting an advantage for allegedly soliciting payment to secure and maintain employment for the workers.

“The ICAC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and will continue to collaborate with the Development Bureau and other stakeholders to prevent the recurrence of crimes similar to this case,” the commission said.

It added that Zeng, a site team leader for a subcontractor of the Kai Tak Hospital construction project in central Kowloon, had his case scheduled for mention at Tuen Mun Court on Thursday morning after being charged on Wednesday night.

Zeng was charged with extorting HK$75,100 from five imported electrical workers between September and November 2026.

Due to a labour shortage in the construction industry, main contractor China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited applied for an importation quota through the Labour Importation Scheme for Construction Sector for its subcontractors, including the defendant and the five electrical workers referred to work on the project, the ICAC added.

The investigation revealed that the daily salary of the five electrical workers was HK$1,300, and that they paid Zeng amounts ranging from HK$9,000 to HK$23,600 out of fear that they would lose their jobs.

To strengthen imported workers’ understanding of anti-corruption laws in Hong Kong, corruption prevention talks would be arranged for workers within eight weeks of their arrival, the commission said.

The watchdog urged construction workers who were approached for payment in exchange for employment to refuse immediately and report the crime to its 24-hour hotline at 2526 6366.

The ICAC said both the main contractor and Billion Best strictly prohibited their employees or agents from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to their affairs and business.

The commission added that China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) and the subcontractor had cooperated fully with its investigation.