Two former staff of a Housing Department market management contractor have admitted to soliciting and accepting illegal commissions from tenants.

Poon Chi-kwong and Lo Chi-keung, both 59, pleaded guilty at Tuen Mun Magistracy today to four offences - one each of accepting and soliciting an advantage, and two of theft. Poon further admitted a similar theft offence. Deputy Magistrate Stephen Wong adjourned sentencing to March 27, pending background reports. The defendants were remanded in custody.

Modern Market was the principal tenant of Chung Fu (Modern) Market at a Tin Shui Wai housing estate. Stalls and warehouses in the market were sublet to individual tenants through Modern Market. Poon and Lo were employed by Modern Market respectively as manager and caretaker, responsible for leasing market stalls.

On February 11, 2004, a tenant agreed to rent two stalls at $32,000 a month. Poon and Lo proposed to reduce the rent to $30,000, and asked the tenant to pay $6,000 commission, claiming it was known and approved by Modern Market. In May 2004, Poon and Lo solicited $8,000 from a second tenant for a similar reason. Modern Market prohibited its employees from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to its business.

On May 26, 2004, the second tenant decided to change his lease from a monthly term to an annual basis. The tenant was informed that he had to pay a $2,000 administration fee.  Without the knowledge of Modern Market, Poon pocketed the payment.

On two separate occasions in July 2004, Poon and Lo deceived two other payments of $18,000 and $1,200 from a third tenant under different pretexts, and pocketed the money without the knowledge of Modern Market.