Hong Kong Official Fired After Boasting of Travel Perks on Social Media
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A Hong Kong official stationed on the Chinese mainland was fired and placed under investigation just days after taking office, following his decision to boast on social media about receiving luxury travel perks.
The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said late Wednesday that it had terminated the employment of Ricky Cheng, the newly appointed director of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s liaison unit in Tianjin. The bureau referred his case to law enforcement agencies, citing suspicions that Cheng violated the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance by accepting unauthorized benefits.
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- Ricky Cheng, a Hong Kong official, was fired and investigated for allegedly accepting unauthorized benefits after boasting about luxury travel upgrades on social media.
- The bureau cited potential violations of Hong Kong’s Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, emphasizing strict rules against public servants accepting gifts or perks without approval.
- The incident underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to clean governance, referencing past high-profile prosecutions, including the case of former Chief Executive Donald Tsang.
- Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin
- The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, was where Ricky Cheng, a Hong Kong official, checked in and received a free suite upgrade. He boasted about this on social media, sparking an investigation that led to his dismissal. This incident highlights Hong Kong's strict anti-corruption regulations for civil servants.
- TurboJET
- TurboJET is a ferry operator mentioned in the context of Ricky Cheng's social media post. Cheng, a Hong Kong official, boasted about receiving a free upgrade to a private cabin on a ferry from Hong Kong to Macao, arranged by a senior executive named Alan at TurboJET. This incident led to an investigation and his subsequent dismissal.
- Invest Hong Kong
- Invest Hong Kong, or 香港投资推广署, is a department within the Hong Kong government. Ricky Cheng, the official mentioned in the article, previously held a position at Invest Hong Kong's Chengdu office during his long career in public service. This detail highlights his extensive experience within various government roles.
- 2017：
- Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 20 months in prison for misconduct in public office.
- 2019：
- Donald Tsang was acquitted by the Court of Final Appeal, which quashed his conviction and sentence.
- May 2025：
- Ricky Cheng, then head of Hong Kong's liaison unit in Fujian province, posted about receiving a free upgrade to a private cabin on a ferry from Hong Kong to Macao arranged by a TurboJET executive.
- January 19, 2026：
- Ricky Cheng posted on Threads about arriving in Tianjin to assume his new post as director of the HKSAR government’s liaison unit and mentioned receiving a free upgrade to a suite at the Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin.
- Early January 22, 2026：
- The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau responded to public scrutiny, stating Ricky Cheng was employed under the Post-retirement Service Contract Scheme and was reviewing the Macao ferry upgrade incident.
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