A former executive director of Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority has been acquitted of misconduct in coercing insurer Prudential to hire her daughter-in-law. Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man ruled on Thursday that Carol Hui Mei-ying and Chan Tsz-wai were not guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, as the actions caused no actual damage to public trust in the regulator.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) alleged that Carol Hui Mei-ying and digital strategy consultant Chan Tsz-wai conspired between September 2022 and March 2023 to use Hui’s position at the Insurance Authority to pressure Prudential into hiring Chan as senior manager of digital strategy at an annual salary of HK$1.3 million, 30 per cent above her prior offer.
Chan, who married Hui’s son in 2021, had her application under process when Hui met Prudential CEO Lawrence Lam and other senior staff to discuss technology risk and talent shortages. Testimonies from attendees indicated Hui urged Prudential to address its failure to recruit technology risk management candidates with competitive pay.
During the meeting, Hui stated the authority would order a skill performance review if Prudential did not follow up. Magistrate Minnie Wat Lai-man at Eastern Court found the pair not guilty on Thursday, ruling their actions did not cause “actual damage” to public trust in the regulator.
Hui is in her mid-sixties.