Timothy Tong's liquor spending spree gives ICAC a hangover
Alcohol purchases banned as more spending and unusual recruitment practices come to light
Graft-busting agency ICAC, stung by revelations that it had paid for huge amounts of liquor under its free-spending former chief, Timothy Tong Hin-ming, has suspended alcohol purchases and may sell its remaining supplies.
Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Simon Peh Yun-lu said that when alcohol was required for a reception, it would be taken from existing stocks and all the hard liquor would be put up for sale through a government auction after the investigation into Tong's entertainment spending was over.
It was earlier disclosed that Tong had bought 1,000 bottles of alcoholic beverages when he was at the helm of the agency. But the Legislative Council's Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday that there were just 41 bottles of table wine and two bottles of hard liquor left.
Peh told the committee that he had discussed the issue with colleagues and had come up with the idea of banning purchases of alcohol for the moment.
"If there is a need to use house wine for a reception, we will use the stored bottles. My approval will be required, including the amount to be used," he said.
Peh revealed late last month that Tong had spent HK$724,000 on gifts - more than triple than the HK$220,000 he first reported to lawmakers.
Yesterday he said the first number had been hastily taken from the ICAC's records.
