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Brian Wong

A couple who survived the deadly Tai Po blaze last year have been barred from leaving Hong Kong pending trial for allegedly obtaining more than HK$330,000 (US$42,000) in government-guaranteed loans by overstating the decline in revenue of their decoration business.
Former Wang Fuk Court residents Jason Kong Cheung-fat, 65, and Rosanna Cheung Yeuk-lan, 62, appeared in Sha Tin Court on Tuesday to face two counts of fraud and one of money laundering.
The couple were not required to enter pleas after prosecutors applied a five-week adjournment to prepare the paperwork to transfer the case to the District Court for trial.
According to a charge sheet available for press viewing, the defendants misrepresented to HSBC the decline in sales of Ace Interior Design & Engineering Company, of which they are directors, to support two applications under the 100 per cent Personal Loan Guarantee Scheme between February 8 and June 30, 2022.
The scheme was a relief measure introduced in 2020 to provide fully government-guaranteed loans to companies struggling to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors also accused the couple of laundering the HK$331,300 they dishonestly obtained between April 4 and July 25 that year.
Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong released each defendant on HK$10,000 bail, on condition that they remain in Hong Kong, reside at their current address in Hung Shui Kiu, report to police once a week and avoid contact with prosecution witnesses.

The couple are expected to return to Sha Tin Court for a brief hearing on October 6.
In April, Kong testified at an independent committee inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court fire in his capacity as a former management committee member of the owners’ corporation.
He complained about suspected vote-rigging practices at general meetings and suggested the long-standing problem was linked to the appointment of a convicted contractor at the centre of the disaster that killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000.
Kong and his wife were arrested on the morning of May 14, two weeks after the former resident representative petitioned the estate’s administrator to convene an extraordinary general meeting to address homeowners’ queries.


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Jason Kong leaves Sha Tin Court over allegations of fraud and money laundering. Photo: Sun Yeung

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News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Wang Fuk Court residents allegedly obtained more than HK$330,000 in government-backed loans by overstating drop in revenue of their business


Wang Fuk Court residents allegedly obtained more than HK$330,000 in government-backed loans by overstating drop in revenue of their business.


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Crime in Hong Kong

Sha Tin

HSBC

Couple who survived Tai Po fire await trial for fraud, cannot leave Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Wang Fuk Court residents allegedly obtained more than HK$330,000 in government-backed loans by overstating drop in revenue of their business

Wang Fuk Court residents allegedly obtained more than HK$330,000 in government-backed loans by overstating drop in revenue of their business