Ms Joyce Teng, of the hospital's former human resources department, revealed this in a district court on Thursday morning when she took the stand as a prosecution witness in the joint criminal trial of the monk and aide Raymond Yeung.

Ms Teng said the department was approached by Ming Yi, who was then the chief executive officer, to send Yeung's employment pass application to the Ministry of Manpower.

She said the department did not interview Yeung, an Australian citizen, but went ahead to submit the form to the ministry on April 2, 2001.

The reply came back a few days later, saying Yeung's application was rejected. No reason was given.

An appeal was made and while the decision was pending, Ming Yi told Ms Teng to prepare an employment contract for Yeung.

It was signed by Yeung on May 12, 2001, which stated that he started 'work' on June 1.

Ming Yi also gave instructions on how Yeung was to be paid.

'He told me to pay Raymond's salary into his pay and he would pay Raymond,' Ms Teng said.

The hospital went ahead to do so, raising Ming Yi's pay from $16,000 in May 2001 to $20,000 the following month.