Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has charged three people, including two private care home operators, in connection with an alleged HK$1.3 million fraud involving the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly.
The ICAC announced on July 9 that the trio allegedly overstated carers’ service hours by more than 5,000 hours under the Social Welfare Department’s scheme, which provides elderly residents with subsidies to purchase home- or centre-based care services from registered providers.
Those charged are Lo Yuen-yee, 55, a registered nurse and director of Healthy Life Association Limited; Chan Yu-wai, 49, a registered occupational therapist and director and shareholder of Spark Plus Company Limited; and Mak Chui-shan, 58, a personal care service officer employed by both companies.
The investigation was launched after a corruption complaint was referred by the Social Welfare Department, alleging the trio used false records to obtain government subsidies. At the time of the alleged offences, both Healthy Life Association and Spark Plus were registered service providers under the scheme and were required to submit attendance records to claim reimbursements.
The ICAC’s case highlights concerns over the integrity of subsidy claims within Hong Kong’s elderly care sector.
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