ICAC charges former HKEX vice president

A former vice president of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) was charged by the ICAC on Wednesday for allegedly obtaining dishonest access to the HKEX’s internal information system. The system contained confidential information involving listed companies, according to the anti-graft agency. Geoffrey Tong, 39, and his mother, Leung Yiu-chun, 68, jointly face one count of obtaining access to computer with a view to dishonest gain for himself or another under the Crimes Ordinance. The charge alleges that the two defendants obtained access to the HKEX’s internal information system with a view to dishonest gain between February 2018 and April 2023. The ICAC investigation revealed that Tong allegedly accessed confidential information of listed companies unrelated to his duties on multiple occasions. “Subsequently, the investment account of his mother, Leung, engaged in share transactions of the relevant listed companies, yielding profits exceeding HK$500,000,” the ICAC said in a statement. The case was brought to the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for mention on Wednesday. The ICAC said it would not rule out further prosecution as the investigation continues. Edited by Edmond Fong