14 defendants, including 13 parents, jailed 8-14 months in Hong Kong for HK$1.1M bribery scheme to skip waitlist at ESF Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten. Sentenced March 31.
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Source: OT-Team(G), 红星新闻, 南方都市报， 香港特别行政区廉政公署
Fourteen defendants, including 13 parents and one intermediary, were sentenced by a Hong Kong court on March 31 to jail terms ranging from eight to 14 months for their involvement in a bribery scheme to secure priority admission for children into an international kindergarten, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
The case centered on admissions to the pre-nursery (K1) program at ESF Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten, part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), and underscores ongoing concerns about fairness and integrity in highly competitive international school placements in Hong Kong.
Bribes Totaling HK$1.1 Million
According to the ICAC, the defendants collectively offered approximately HK$1.1 million (about US$140,000) in bribes to a former administrative officer at the kindergarten, identified as Lam Chun-yee, between 2018 and 2021. The payments—ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 each—were made in exchange for prioritizing 12 children from 11 families, as well as the daughter of a business associate of the intermediary, for admission.
Investigations revealed that although the children had passed admission interviews, they were initially placed low on the waiting list. Following the bribe payments, all were moved up and granted priority enrollment.
Sentences and Roles
The 13 parents, aged between 35 and 48, were each sentenced to between eight and 11 months in prison. The intermediary, Siu Yu-bong, who facilitated the bribery arrangement on behalf of a business partner, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. The court found that Siu stood to gain commercially by assisting his associate.
In total, the defendants were convicted of 13 charges, including 12 counts of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent and one count of incitement to solicit advantages, in violation of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, the Crimes Ordinance, and common law.
One parent, Kong Ching-man, was additionally found to have initiated further corrupt conduct after securing a place for her own child, by encouraging the school official to accept bribes from a friend seeking admission for another child.
Court: Deterrence Needed to Protect Integrity
In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Amy Chan Wai-man acknowledged the parents’ desire to secure the best opportunities for their children but emphasized that such motivations do not justify breaking the law.
“The defendants showed no remorse,” the judge said, adding that their actions deprived other applicants of fair opportunities and undermined Hong Kong’s core values of integrity. She stressed the need for deterrent sentences to send a clear message to the public.
The court adopted a starting point of 12 to 15 months’ imprisonment, later reduced to between eight and 14 months after considering mitigating factors.
Ongoing Proceedings Against School Official
The former administrative officer at the center of the scheme, 56-year-old Lam Chun-yee, previously pleaded guilty to nine charges, including conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages and accepting advantages as an agent. Her case has been adjourned for mitigation on April 16, with sentencing scheduled for April 20.
ICAC: Parents Should Refuse Bribes
The ICAC stated that the case came to light following a corruption complaint and reiterated that bribery in school admissions violates the principle of fairness.
“While it is natural for parents to seek the best education for their children, they should set a positive example by upholding integrity and the rule of law,” an ICAC spokesperson said. “If solicited for bribes, parents should refuse and report the matter immediately.”
The English Schools Foundation provided full assistance during the investigation, according to the ICAC.
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