Retired Hong Kong social worker admits defrauding authorities out of HK$16,780

South China Morning Post

3 days ago

A retired Hong Kong social worker behind a dropped legal challenge against the approval of the San Tin Technopole project's environmental study has admitted to concealing his financial assets to defraud authorities out of HK$16,780 (US$2,137) in welfare benefits.
Eddie Tse Sai-kit on Thursday pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud for obtaining monthly aid of HK$4,195 on four occasions without notifying the Social Welfare Department that his income exceeded the limit for receiving an old age living allowance.
The 68-year-old defendant was arrested early this year while he was challenging an environmental impact assessment report that endorsed the development of a
technology hub near the mainland Chinese border.
Despite securing permission from the High Court to commence judicial review proceedings, Tse later
dropped the case , citing 'widespread harassment and intimidation'.
The court heard that Tse had applied for an old age living allowance in June 2023 and claimed his monthly income was HK$5,000, which was below the then limit of HK$10,710.
He received a total of HK$80,460 from the department between July 2023 and December 2024.
But the social worker failed to declare his earnings from Polytechnic University, where he had worked as a part-time supervisor from January 2021 to May this year.