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Hong Kong water procurement scandal

Hong Kong water procurement scandal
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Hong Kong water procurement scandal. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Members of the independent investigation committee of the Wang Fuk Court fire, wearing protective suits, inspect the fire scene on December 23. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong politics

Outside In | To root out corruption, Hong Kong fire probe must go beyond scapegoats

Public procurement failures often reflect government responsibility, and Hong Kong’s fire investigation must confront that reality.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong set to unveil bottled water probe results, take disciplinary action

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong award on hold for ex-logistics chief until water scandal probe ends

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Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Probe into Hong Kong’s water procurement scandal must restore trust

With the integrity of the system at stake, the inquiry needs to help civil servants rise to the challenges they face.

A person walks past empty distilled water bottles at a logistics company in Yuen Long, on August 19. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong officials involved in water procurement fiasco face disciplinary probe

Investigation will cover all officials who took part in the procurement process, regardless of rank or whether they have retired.

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Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s new accountability system to ensure government ‘keeps fit’

City leader John Lee says ‘Heads of Department Accountability System’ will push civil servants to keep trying to improve.

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Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Accountability system for Hong Kong’s top civil servants is long overdue

A fair and transparent mechanism, with effective protections for those under scrutiny, should be welcomed.

A man looks at the government’s headquarters in Tamar, Admiralty, on February 22, 2025. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong logistics chief involved in water scandal begins pre-retirement leave

Carlson Chan’s former deputy, Avia Lai, appointed as acting director of department.

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Hong Kong politics

Opinion | John Lee’s policy address must illuminate Hong Kong’s way forward

With businesses seeing ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for the city’s recovery, residents deserve to know what that means for them.

Hong Kong society

Outside In | Big bucks in government procurement makes it a honeypot for corruption

Transparency, good audits, appeal channels and channels for whistle-blowers might provide some checks – but never a foolproof solution.

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Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu (centre) chairs the first meeting of the Task Force on Review of Government Procurement Regime on August 21. Photo: ISD
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | To end Hong Kong’s procurement failures, overhaul civil service culture

Unless attitudes change, new rules risk becoming simply another checklist to follow.

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From the left, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Andrew Lai Chi-wah, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, and Director of Government Logistics Carlson Chan Ka-shun attend a press briefing on the government procurement regime after the drinking water scandal, at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on August 21. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong official urges ‘heightened alertness’ among staff after water scandal

Bureaus, departments must step up efforts to prevent such incidents from happening again, says memo signed by logistics chief Carlson Chan.

Hong Kong's tainted water scare

Opinion | Water scandal another blow to public trust in Hong Kong government

While it is easy to blame systemic failures, these systems were created by people who must be held accountable.

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Hong Kong politics

No separate inquiry needed to probe Hong Kong water scandal, treasury chief says

Christopher Hui defends adequacy of Audit Commission to conduct investigation, and recommends use of technology to improve vetting of tenders.

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Xin Ding Xin’s director Lui Tsz-chung and shareholder Chan Pik-lam have been arrested in the wake of the scandal. Lui has been charged with fraud, while Chan is currently out on bail. Photo: Karma Lo
John Lee

‘Very disappointed’: John Lee speaks for first time on Hong Kong’s water scandal

City leader also voices approval of treasury minister’s response to suspected fraud by bottled water supplier granted HK$52.9 million contract.

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The city leader was responding to a growing government water procurement saga in which a three-year HK$52.9 million contract was awarded to Xin Ding Xin Trade, a company that is now suspected of using fraudulent documents to win the bid. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong politics

Apology for Hong Kong water scandal not enough to stem public’s anger: experts

Analysts call for system to punish underperforming civil servants as the Post learns more senior officials involved in contract decision-making.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong water scandal: tougher vetting of tender bidders needed, lawmakers say

Legislators have accused the government of accepting information submitted by contract bidders at face value.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong logistics official admits system failed to detect water fraud

Logistics department head says current procurement system may fail to detect scammers using authentic documents to mislead government.

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(From left) Permanent Secretary for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau Andrew Lai, treasury chief Christopher Hui and logistics department director Carlson Chan. Photo: Karma Lo
Crime in Hong Kong

Water-scandal suspects had deal with different factory, Hong Kong police say

Government says it has terminated all other contracts with Xin Ding Xin Trade.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Couple held over Hong Kong water procurement scandal linked to another fraud case

Pair already under investigation for 2022 case unrelated to arrest over contract for supply of bottled water to government, source says.

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Hong Kong politics

Calls for Hong Kong government to speed up probe into pricier water deal

Lawmaker questions why government needs three months to explain tender to company without a factory, as civil servants start buying their own water.

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A Robust customer service operator told the Post on Sunday that XinLe was not one of the company’s products. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong partially axes bottled water deal with firm as police launch probe

Government says it doubts bottled water supplier Xin Ding Xin is capable of fulfilling 36-month contract, which it won just two months ago.

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Hong Kong authorities have suspended their bottled water supply contract with Xin Ding Xin Trade Company. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong leader John Lee in safety pledge over bottled water deals

For the first time, the government has awarded contracts to mainland Chinese brands to supply drinking water to certain offices.

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