US charges Hong Kong-based businessman Winsman Ng with stealing trade secrets from GE
- Along with an unnamed GE engineer, Ng stole semiconductor technology in order to set up a competing company on the mainland, indictment says
- Ng has not been arrested, and the US no longer has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong
A Chinese businessman based in Hong Kong has been indicted for allegedly stealing millions of dollars’ worth of trade secrets from General Electric, the US Justice Department announced on Friday.
Chi Lung Winsman Ng, along with an unnamed co-conspirator, stole proprietary semiconductor technology in order to set up a competing company on the mainland, according to the indictment.
Ng, 64, who lives in Hong Kong and has not been arrested, faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine of US$250,000, the Justice Department said.
It is not clear that the US will be able to apprehend him, however, given that Washington suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in August after Beijing imposed the national security law.
“Ng conspired to steal valuable and sensitive technology from GE and produce it in China,” said Thomas Relford, a special agent with the FBI’s Albany field office. “Theft of trade secrets is a constant and dangerous threat to our American companies.”