Competition Commission's latest crackdown on bid-rigging syndicates

The Competition Commission has further cracked down on bid-rigging syndicates for building maintenance contracts.

The watchdog uncovered suspected big-rigging in maintenance works across 28 housing estates and buildings with a total contract value of 500 million dollars.

During the operation, 12 premises were raided, including the offices of four contractors and the residences of the suspects. The 28 projects involved are spread across 12 districts across Hong Kong. Some contracts had already been commenced or completed before the investigation, and the watchdog has informed the situation to property owners involved.

The Competition Commission says during the first round of searches in January this year, it discovered a suspicious phone message conversation indicating the presence of another hidden bid-rigging syndicate.

A contractor not previously investigated allegedly used intermediaries to reach out to other contractors during a housing estate's tendering process to submit cover-up tenders.