Competition Commission cracks down on bid-rigging
發佈日期: 2026-01-29 21:37
TVB News
In a crackdown operation against bid-rigging, the Competition Commission searched 14 engineering contractors and consulting firms suspected of rigging contracts for maintenance work in housing estates and buildings. The estimated total contract value is 700 million dollars.
The case involves 13 residential housing estates and single-building blocks, as well as 4 industrial and commercial buildings, spread across nine districts.
Over two consecutive days, the Competition Commission, armed with court warrants, searched 27 premises, including offices and residences of those involved.
The mastermind behind the group was an engineering contractor, with members including multiple engineering contractors, consulting firms, and other related individuals. The group had been operating for some time.
During the bidding process for some projects, the mastermind would obtain confidential project estimates from consulting firms and then coordinate with other members to submit bids, creating the illusion of competition by submitting higher bids, thereby protecting the mastermind's chances of winning the contracts.
In other projects, contractors would "run alongside" each other, making an impression of competition to help a predetermined contractor win the bid.
The Competition Commission stated that most of the contracts involved have not yet been awarded, and a decision on whether to take further action will be made after the investigation is completed.
