Police said on Friday that a government administrative officer was among five people arrested on suspicion of operating a prostitution syndicate.

Officers said the 30-year-old man, surnamed Lam, is an assistant district officer in Sha Tin.

Police superintendent Alan Chung said the civil servant is suspected to have made hotel room bookings in connection with the alleged offences and he has since been released on bail.

Three other men and a woman were also arrested in the past two days.

Chung said police believe the syndicate operated for up to two years, via the Telegram messaging app.

He said undercover officers were deployed in an operation during which officers seized airline cabin crew uniforms and fake staff cards.