ICAC charges 3 former HSBC managers over accepting bribes to favour customers

Hong Kong corruption watchdog alleges managers at Causeway Bay branch took bribes to help customers jump the queue and open bank accounts

Hong Kong’s corruption watchdog has charged three former HSBC relationship managers with allegedly accepting bribes to help customers jump the queue when opening bank accounts.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Thursday that Chan Fu-kwan, 32, along with Mike Chan Wai-pak, 29, and Bernie Yau Kai-lung, 33, all worked at one of the bank’s Causeway Bay branches at the time of the alleged offences, and faced a total of six bribery charges. They were charged on Wednesday.

The ICAC’s investigation found that Chan Fu-kwan allegedly accepted bribes from an insurance agent, ranging from HK$1,000 (US$127) to HK$1,200 per customer referred, to facilitate the opening of bank accounts for those clients.

Chan also allegedly referred some customers to three other HSBC relationship managers, including Mike Chan and Yau, for help opening accounts, and offered bribes of HK$300 to HK$500 per customer referred to them. He also asked the trio for help when he could not handle those customers himself.

The watchdog said Chan Fu-kwan had accepted a total of HK$35,000 to arrange customers to open accounts without having to queue at the branch.

Separately, Mike Chan was also charged on Wednesday for alleged illegal betting after he placed more than HK$120,000 in bets on an online platform via a bookmaker.