Joseph Kam Kai-man, 64, yesterday pleaded guilty to four counts of misconduct in public office and two counts of fraud between September 2005 and March 2014.

Deputy judge Katherine Lo Kit-yee adjourned the case to June 17 for sentencing. Kam has been remanded in jail custody.

The court heard that Kam became the CHP's consultant medical microbiologist in 1997 and was in charge of a number of laboratories, including the Hong Kong Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, operated by the Department of Health.

Between 2005 and 2013, Kam falsely told three organizations - the World Health Organization, National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan and Switzerland-based Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics - that his association was a public institution.

He claimed he was authorized by the Department of Health to sign service agreements with the three organizations. Kam then arranged for the Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory to provide service to the organizations and received payments from them through a bank account of which he was the sole owner.

Kam got a total of 15 million yen (HK$1.28 million at exchange rates then) from the Japanese institute for organizing seven workshops.

He also signed agreements with the WHO and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics and received US$144,000 (HK$1.12 million) and US$240,000 (HK$1.86 million) from them respectively.

In mitigation, the defense said Kam had been dedicated to public health service for most of his career and was remorseful for his wrongdoings.