Next Media Li Zhiying and Next Media Group Executive Director Huang Weiqiang are suspected of violating the land lease by using the land valued at HK$516 million in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, and concealing the owner of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Company, so that the company related to Li Zhiying obtains rental benefits, and 2 people are charged with fraud , the case will be continued in the district court today (10th). Wen Xihua, the development director of the Science and Technology Park Corporation, confessed that following receiving inquiries from online media the year before last year regarding the suspected illegal operation of many companies in the area involved, he sent a letter to Apple Printing to ask for clarification, and later sent an officer to the Lands Office. A joint inspection was carried out on the area involved, and the alleged related company was not found at that time, but it was found that the “water sign” contained the “Apple Daily Charity Fund” that had not been issued a license to occupy the above site. To facilitate the collection of donation cheques, the name of the fund has since been removed.
The prosecution today called the second witness, Wen Xihua, director of development of the Science and Technology Park Company. Wen reiterated that when handling the lessee’s application for a company license, the main consideration is whether the company’s business is related to the specified purpose of the lease, and its relationship with the lessee. The Ligao Consultants Limited involved in the case did not apply for a license. The article pointed out that following she took over the management work, Huang Weiqiang handled the leasing and licensing matters on behalf of Apple Printing. In March of the previous year, the Science and Technology Park received inquiries from the Internet media regarding the lease and use of the lot involved in the case. Later, the Lands Office also sent a letter to inquire regarding whether the lot involved was sub-leased. The subordinate of the article is Liaison Huang, but Huang did not give a firm reply, so the Science and Technology Park sent a written letter requesting Apple Printing to give a written reply on this issue.
The article refers to the staff of the Science and Technology Park and the Lands Office later on May 4 of the same year to inspect the area involved in the case, and Huang led them to inspect the building. Wen once said that some rooms might not be entered. However, following being questioned and clarified by the judge, Wen said that due to the operation of machines in some places, she agreed that she did not need to enter certain places to check, and some places might be seen through glass doors, rather than Huang preventing them from entering. The article pointed out that during the inspection on that day, the name of “Apple Daily Charity Fund” was displayed on the underground signboard, and the company was not licensed to occupy the lot. After questioning, Huang explained that the name of the company was mainly used to receive donation checks and mails, and it did not actually operate and occupy a lot of land, and the company’s nameplate might also be removed. Wen said the company’s brand name was later removed during inspections.
The defendants in this case are Lai Zhiying (74 years old) and Huang Weiqiang (60 years old), the two were charged with one count of fraud, alleging that the two together with Zhou Daquan and others, from January 2016 to May 19, 2020, to Hong Kong The Science and Technology Parks Corporation concealed the use of the premises at No. 8 Chun Ying Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate without entering into a lease; and Lai Zai alone faced one more count of fraud, accusing him and others in April 1998. From the 1st to December 31st, 2015, he used the premises involved in the case without concealing the proposal and the lease agreement.
Case number: DCCC 349/2021
