Key facts
- The 28 arrested include seven directors from six contractors and ten directors from consultancy firms, the government said.
- Authorities allege the group used bid-rigging, bribery, forgery, intimidation and blackmail to win repair contracts.
- The ICAC said it searched more than 50 locations and seized bank records and company books.
- Police said some of those arrested are believed to have triad backgrounds.
- The Competition Commission said it searched 11 premises and seized phones, computers and tender documents.
Hong Kong authorities arrested 28 people on November 6, 2026, over alleged bid-rigging in building maintenance works, in the first operation by a joint task force set up after the Wang Fuk Court fire. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung announced the arrests at an afternoon briefing alongside police and anti-corruption officials.
Tang said the group was suspected of using bid-rigging, bribery, forgery, intimidation and blackmail to secure 12 building-works contracts across Hong Kong with a combined value of about HK$100 million. He said the syndicate targeted older blocks with many elderly residents whose owners lacked professional knowledge of repair work.
Those arrested include seven directors from six contractors, six contractor staff, ten directors and two staff from consultancy firms, a director and a staff member of a property management company, and one owners' corporation member. Authorities said some of the suspects are believed to have triad backgrounds. Suspected offences include fraud, forgery, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to offer and accept advantages.
The ICAC said it arrested 20 of the 28, including contractors, consultancy directors and staff, a property-management director and owners' corporation members. It said small owners had earlier complained of suspected bid-rigging, and that the joint investigation searched more than 50 locations and seized bank records and company books. Investigators suspect contractors bribed consultancies, property managers and owners' corporations to influence which firm won the work.
Authorities said five contracts with a total value of HK$90 million were stopped before they could proceed. The buildings involved stand in Central and Western, Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing and Tuen Mun districts. Investigators also allege heavy cash dealing and false transaction records were used to hide the trail of funds.
In a related sweep, police shut seven illegal gambling and vice premises said to have been controlled by people among those arrested, taking a further 38 people into custody. The Competition Commission said it searched 11 premises, including offices of two contractors and three consultancy firms, and seized phones, computers, tender documents and communications records.
Tang said the task force had also formed a 24-hour hotline for the public to report suspected bid-rigging and would offer monetary rewards.