Tai Po fire petition organiser charged with fraud
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police said Jason Kong and his wife, Rosanna Cheung, will appear at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday after being charged with fraud and money laundering offences linked to government-backed loans. The case comes more than three months after the couple were arrested, and follows Kong’s high-profile advocacy on behalf of residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire
Key Points
- The couple face two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of dealing with property believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, commonly known as money laundering
- Police said Kong and Cheung, both directors of an interior design company, allegedly used fraudulent means to obtain several hundred thousand dollars under the Special 100% Loan Guarantee scheme
- They were arrested in May, about two weeks after Kong delivered a petition urging Wang Fuk Court’s estate administrator to meet homeowners
- The Special 100% Loan Guarantee scheme was launched by the Hong Kong government in early 2020 to support companies during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Kong and Cheung survived the November fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, where Kong later criticised official handling and called for an investigation and on-site redevelopment
Why It Matters
The charges place a prominent residents’ advocate at the centre of a criminal case, potentially affecting how other Wang Fuk Court victims and homeowners pursue representation and negotiations. The proceedings are also likely to draw attention to oversight of emergency business loan schemes introduced during the pandemic