Hong Kong's ICAC charges former HKEX vice president with dishonest use of internal information system

Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this morning (November 4) charged a former vice president of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) with allegedly dishonestly accessing HKEX's internal information system, involving confidential information of listed companies. The former vice president's mother was also charged. The case was mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts this afternoon. Tong Po-hang, 39, former vice president of HKEX; and his mother Leung Yiu-chun, 68, were jointly charged with one count of accessing a computer with a view to dishonest gain, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance. The charge alleges that the two defendants allegedly unlawfully accessed HKEX's internal information system between February 2018 and April 2023, with a view to dishonest gain for themselves or others. The HKICAC earlier launched an investigation upon receiving a corruption complaint referred by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). HKICAC investigation revealed that during the incident period, Tong Po-hang allegedly repeatedly accessed confidential information of listed companies unrelated to his duties in HKEX's internal information system, while his mother Leung Yiu-chun's investment account subsequently conducted stock trading in the relevant listed companies, profiting over HK$500,000. The HKICAC's related corruption investigation is still ongoing, and further prosecutions are not ruled out. The HKICAC and the SFC maintained close cooperation during the investigation of this case and received full assistance from HKEX.