Authorities said on Friday that 28 people were arrested in an operation against a suspected triad-linked bid-rigging syndicate targeting building maintenance and renovation projects.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang said it was the first operation by the joint task force made up of police, the ICAC and the Competition Commission, which was set up after the Wang Fuk Court fire last year.

Tang said the syndicate was looking to cash in before the government's anti-bid-rigging policies takes effect.

Under pretexts such as fluctuating material prices and the urgent need to start works, it tried to get homeowners to sign contracts quickly, so its preferred engineering consultants and contractors would be selected in a bid to rake in huge profits at the last minute, he said.

"The syndicate involved at least 20 buildings or estates, including 12 that have already awarded the contract and eight that have yet to award the contract," the security minister told reporters.

"The awarded sum is about HK$100 million and the to-be-awarded amount is also about HK$100 million."

Officials will contact the owners' corporations of the affected estates to offer assistance.

Those arrested include directors and staff from a property management company, six contractors and 10 consultancy firms, along with one member of an owners' corporation.

Several arrestees, Tang said, were suspected to have triad affiliations.

They were arrested for offences including deception, forgery, conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, among others.

Separately, police smashed seven illegal premises suspected to be controlled by triads across the city and arrested 38 people.

Tang said the syndicate allegedly funnelled profits from bid-rigging to illegal gambling dens and vice establishments.

He added a 24-hour hotline and a reward scheme have been set up to encourage the public to report suspected bid-rigging, with all information kept strictly confidential.


Edited by Edmond Fong