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Four Sham Shui Po residents charged in ‘lucky bag’ vote-buying scheme involving pro-Beijing lawmaker in last year’s Legislative Council by-elections

  • Deng Yimei, 42, and Wong Wai-ha, 52, face one count each of conspiracy to offer an advantage to others at an election
  • Chan Wai-kuen and Li Mau, both 50, were charged with one count each of accepting the advantage

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Li Mau, 50, arrives at West Kowloon Court on Thursday to face one count of accepting an advantage in an election. Photo: Brian Wong
Four residents of a Sham Shui Po public housing estate were charged with corruption on Thursday after being accused of a “lucky bag” bribery scheme involving a pro-Beijing candidate in last year’s Legislative Council by-elections.
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Deng Yimei, 42, and Wong Wai-ha, 52, faced one count of conspiracy to offer an advantage to others at an election for allegedly offering the “lucky bags” to co-defendants, Chan Wai-kuen and Li Mau, both 50. In return for the bags, the defendants were meant to vote for Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, of the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption said Deng and Wong were housewives and volunteers at Friends of Hoi Lai Society, a residents’ group in Hoi Lai Estate, where the two other defendants are also residents.

Between February 28 and March 11 last year, the pair allegedly offered “lucky bags” to their neighbours, Chan and Li, to have them vote for Cheng. The bags contained food and household items valued at around HK$100 (US$12.75).

Chan and Li, who had allegedly agreed to vote for Cheng, were charged with one count each of accepting an advantage at an election.

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Exterior view of the West Kowloon Law Courts Building in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Felix Wong
Exterior view of the West Kowloon Law Courts Building in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Felix Wong
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