8 FEHD officers sentenced to community service for favoritism in recruitment
發佈日期: 2025-06-17 22:44
TVB News
Eight officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have been sentenced to 150 to 240 hours of community service for having given preferential treatment to 36 candidates during a 2019 recruitment exericise.
The eight defendants, aged between 59 and 64, all face one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
The lead defendant, a former acting chief hawker control officer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to misconduct in public office and testified for the prosecution.
The rest denied the charges but were convicted after trial.
The District Court heard that the case occurred between July and August 2019 when the FEHD was undertaking the recruitment exercise with about 2,100 candidates invited for interview. Messages circulating among the defendants revealed lists with 36 people who are sons or daughters of former colleagues or friends.
In sentencing, the judge said there was no evidence that unqualified candidates were hired but said the act compromised fairness and tarnished the department's image. The defendants had all retired.
The FEHD said it will follow disciplinary procedures and may consider suspending or reducing their pension benefits.
