Registered electrician admits fake A-grade licence plot
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
A 45-year-old registered electrician, Chan Kwok-wai (陳國威), pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on September 24 to conspiracy to defraud over a false employment certificate used in an application for an A-grade electrician licence. Prosecutors said the false document was submitted to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, leading the department to issue the licence to applicant Tsui Shing-fuk (徐盛福), 49. Magistrate Chan Wai-man described the case as a “typical corruption case”, remanded Chan in custody, and adjourned sentencing to October 12 for a background report. Tsui’s case was adjourned to November 19, and he was granted HK$10,000 bail with a condition not to contact witnesses.
Key Points
- The charge alleged that between October 2022 and January 2023, the two men conspired with others to deceive the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
- The disputed certificate was issued in the name of Kam Lok Lighting & Sound Engineering Company without authorisation and falsely described Tsui’s work experience.
- Under Hong Kong’s registration system, an A-grade electrician licence requires at least five years’ experience, including at least one year under a registered electrician’s supervision.
- Tsui first applied for the licence in June 2021, later submitted supplementary documents, and the department accepted them before issuing the licence.
- ICAC investigators later found the company had never employed Tsui, and Chan admitted under caution that he received HK$15,000 for helping forge the proof.
Why It Matters
Electrician registration is tied directly to who may legally carry out electrical work in Hong Kong, so false experience records can undermine a licensing system designed to assess competence and supervision. The case also shows that a licence already granted can be cancelled after investigation, with the reports saying Tsui’s approved A-grade licence has since been revoked