Ex-bank employee and intermediary charged by ICAC with bribery over account opening

A former bank employee and an intermediary were charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 2) for allegedly conspiring together to accept bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, for assisting clients of the intermediary to open bank accounts. Similarly, the bank employee had allegedly offered bribes to a colleague, but his offer was rejected.

Chan Chun-hei, 30, then senior universal banker of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC); and Zhang Ling, 29, director and shareholder of A Link Consulting Hong Kong Limited (A Link), jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

Chan further faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the POBO.

The two defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (October 6) for plea.

At the material time, Chan was posted to a branch of HSBC in Kowloon Bay. A Link was set up by Zhang for providing paid services to Mainland clients for opening bank accounts in Hong Kong.

One of the charges alleges that between March 2024 and January 2025, the two defendants had conspired together with other persons for Chan to accept bribes from Zhang for assisting clients referred by Zhang and her associates to open bank accounts at HSBC.

It is also suspected that in June 2024, Chan had offered bribes to a colleague of the HSBC Kowloon Bay branch for assisting clients referred by Chan to open bank accounts. His offer was rejected by the colleague.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Zhang had referred about 10 clients to Chan each month for opening bank accounts. During the abovementioned period, Chan accepted from Zhang bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000.

HSBC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The ICAC has been providing integrity training for bank practitioners to heighten their awareness of corruption risks and deepen their understanding of the anti-bribery law. With the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the ICAC launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter last year to promote an integrity culture in the banking industry.