https://www.scmp.com/rss/522503/feed The latest news and top stories on Xin Ding Xin Trade Co Limited. A leading entity in the trade and supply sector, Hong Kong-based Xin Ding Xin Trade Co Limited specialises in exporting chemicals including caustic soda and nitric acid. It recently secured a significant HK$52.9 million contract to supply bottled water, under the "Xinle" brand with the "Guanyinshan" label, to government offices on Hong Kong Island and outlying islands. This achievement marks a notable entry for a mainland supplier... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Swire Coca-Cola has won a HK$31.9 million (US$4 million) contract to supply Bonaqua water to some Hong Kong government offices, following a HK$52.9 million procurement scandal last year. According to a Government Logistics Department notice, Swire Coca-Cola was awarded the 27-month contract on Tuesday to supply more than 1.46 million bottles of drinking water to offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands. The selection followed an open tender launched in December. In its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:32:55 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s headlines in 2025 were shaped by a wide cast of newsmakers, from political heavyweights to everyday residents. Among them were former lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, gold medallist fencer turned legislator Vivian Kong Man-wai and a local mother who won widespread praise for speaking out after a hot-air balloon festival fiasco. The Post looks back at the figures who dominated the headlines over the past year. Regina Ip “Don’t block my way to the meeting … Move away,” the 75-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338299/politicians-athletes-everyday-people-who-made-headlines-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338299/politicians-athletes-everyday-people-who-made-headlines-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok The Hong Kong government has put on hold the presentation of a top honour to a newly retired official whose department was at the centre of a recent bottled water procurement scandal, saying it has to wait until a disciplinary probe reaches a conclusion. The administration revealed the move on Tuesday evening in response to media questions on whether Carlson Chan Ka-shun would attend the 2025 honours presentation ceremony at Government House on Saturday. Chan, the former director of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332395/hong-kong-award-hold-ex-logistics-chief-until-water-scandal-probe-ends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332395/hong-kong-award-hold-ex-logistics-chief-until-water-scandal-probe-ends?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:05:42 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Problems with a company involved in a bottled water procurement scandal were not flagged by the Hong Kong government’s logistics department to a central board that approved the tender, a senior official has revealed, stressing that a probe into the case will also review the roles of those who gave the green light. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu also said on Sunday that the Government Logistics Department (GLD) was tasked with promoting fair competition... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330359/officials-failed-flag-problems-firm-hong-kong-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330359/officials-failed-flag-problems-firm-hong-kong-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 08:04:52 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A disciplinary investigation has been rightly ordered regarding the actions of Hong Kong officials involved in a scandal related to the procurement of bottled water for government offices. Integrity and trust in the system are at stake. It is good the inquiry will extend to all officials, regardless of rank or whether they have retired. An initial review by the city’s Audit Commission found human error may have been a factor. The watchdog discovered that the Government Logistics Department (GLD)... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330039/probe-hong-kongs-water-procurement-scandal-must-restore-trust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330039/probe-hong-kongs-water-procurement-scandal-must-restore-trust?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Civil servants’ vigilance in guarding against potential procurement scams falls short of public expectations, Hong Kong’s treasury minister has admitted, pledging to conduct site visits and prevent the process from becoming a “robotic” arrangement of “checking boxes”. But Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu stressed on Tuesday that the principle of “the lowest bidder wins” did not apply to government procurement procedures this time around and denied that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329753/hong-kong-minister-admits-procurement-vigilance-below-expectations-vows-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329753/hong-kong-minister-admits-procurement-vigilance-below-expectations-vows-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:29:59 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities will launch a disciplinary investigation into officials involved in a bottled water procurement scandal after an initial probe by the audit watchdog found that human error may have been a factor in the case. A review by the Audit Commission found that the Government Logistics Department (GLD) had repeatedly failed to follow up on suspicious signs, giving the green light to a company that allegedly used fraudulent documents to win the tender and supply substandard... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329681/hong-kong-officials-involved-water-procurement-fiasco-face-disciplinary-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3329681/hong-kong-officials-involved-water-procurement-fiasco-face-disciplinary-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:32:23 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau The private secretary of Hong Kong’s leader has been appointed to take over as the new head of the government’s logistics department after it was embroiled in a water procurement scandal. In an announcement of senior appointments on Tuesday, the government said Vicki Kwok Wong Wing-ki would take up the post of director of government logistics on October 27 to succeed Carlson Chan Ka-shun, who proceeded on pre-retirement leave last month. Serving as the private secretary to Chief Executive John... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328991/hong-kong-leader-lees-secretary-take-over-scandal-hit-logistics-department?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328991/hong-kong-leader-lees-secretary-take-over-scandal-hit-logistics-department?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:54:34 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Fiona Sun Jeffie Lam,Fiona Sun The head of Hong Kong’s logistics department, embroiled in a water procurement scandal, has started his pre-retirement leave, while Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said that civil servants remain subject to the management system until they officially depart. According to the latest government gazette, Carlson Chan Ka-shun ceased to be the director of the Government Logistics Department on Friday as he began his pre-retirement leave. His former deputy, Avia Lai Wong Shuk-han, has been... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326066/hong-kong-logistics-department-head-begins-pre-retirement-leave-following-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326066/hong-kong-logistics-department-head-begins-pre-retirement-leave-following-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 02:58:20 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong authorities are looking into complaints about new government-supplied shoes after a lifeguard union received more than 100 reports of discomfort or foot injuries, becoming the second procurement issue to be raised in recent weeks. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Life Guards’ Union earlier revealed that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department had previously switched from shoes provided by global sportswear company Mizuno to a new, lesser-known brand called “JWS”, despite its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324220/hong-kong-authorities-look-complaints-over-new-shoes-issued-lifeguards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324220/hong-kong-authorities-look-complaints-over-new-shoes-issued-lifeguards?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:49:22 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s logistics chief has issued a set of guidelines to senior civil servants, urging them to “heighten their alertness” and conduct due diligence to prevent potential fraudulent acts by tenderers and contractors, following a recent drinking water procurement scandal. “In light of the recent incident on procurement of bottled drinking water for which fraud elements involving the contractor are revealed, it is of utmost importance for bureaus and departments to step up efforts to prevent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324094/hong-kong-official-calls-heightened-alertness-among-staff-after-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324094/hong-kong-official-calls-heightened-alertness-among-staff-after-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:43:31 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The scandal involving a company using fraudulent documents to win a HK$52.9 million (US$6.78 million) bottled water supply contract has put the spotlight on the Hong Kong government’s procurement mechanism. Equally worthy of concern is the long-standing practice of subcontracting works in the construction industry, with the city’s railway operator looking into a suspected fraud involving the use of non-contract specified building materials for an expansion project. In question are the bricks... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323593/hong-kong-must-toughen-gatekeeping-prevent-public-sector-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323593/hong-kong-must-toughen-gatekeeping-prevent-public-sector-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 22:45:12 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu It is quite unimaginable that Hong Kong continues to struggle with basic necessities such as water. However, that is the case, at least when it comes to the government. Ten years ago, opposition lawmaker Helena Wong Pik-wan found excessive levels of lead in drinking water that was later discovered to have affected 11 public housing estates, involving 29,000 households. That led to an independent, judge-led inquiry in 2016. The investigation yielded 17 recommendations, including for the water... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322960/water-scandal-another-blow-public-trust-hong-kong-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322960/water-scandal-another-blow-public-trust-hong-kong-government?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s treasury chief has dismissed calls to set up a separate commission of inquiry to investigate officials’ roles in a bottled water procurement scandal, arguing that the government auditor will be able to identify lapses in a “professional and independent” manner. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, the head of a new task force that is reviewing the case, on Sunday defended the adequacy of having the Audit Commission conduct the investigation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322966/no-separate-inquiry-needed-probe-hong-kong-water-scandal-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322966/no-separate-inquiry-needed-probe-hong-kong-water-scandal-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 06:22:26 +0000 Willa Wu,Harvey Kong Willa Wu,Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s leader has expressed deep disappointment over the Government Logistics Department’s failure to detect fraudulent documents before awarding a HK$52.9 million (US$6.78 million) contract to a bottled water supplier, urging authorities to plug loopholes in the procurement process as soon as possible. Commenting on the water supply scandal for the first time, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Saturday that the treasury minister’s response to the incident had been timely and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322912/very-disappointed-john-lee-speaks-first-time-hong-kongs-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322912/very-disappointed-john-lee-speaks-first-time-hong-kongs-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 06:24:19 +0000 Willa Wu,Vivian Au Willa Wu,Vivian Au A vague public apology and blaming a procedural “flaw” have failed to quell public discontent over the government’s water procurement scandal, political analysts have said, urging Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu to accelerate developing a civil servant accountability system. Analysts made the call on Friday as the government said that the central tender board, chaired by the permanent secretary of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, had given the final approval to the bottled water... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322877/hong-kong-urged-expedite-civil-servant-accountability-system-after-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322877/hong-kong-urged-expedite-civil-servant-accountability-system-after-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:21:49 +0000 Vivian Au,Edith Lin Vivian Au,Edith Lin Hong Kong lawmakers have called for tougher vetting of bidders for government tenders, accusing authorities of accepting information submitted by companies at face value after awarding a HK$52.9 million (US$8.8 million) bottled water contract to a firm suspected of deception. They made the calls for stricter background checks as a senior official apologised for the first time over the growing procurement scandal, which came to light at the weekend after the government was forced to terminate a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322711/hong-kong-water-scandal-tougher-vetting-contract-bidders-needed-lawmakers-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322711/hong-kong-water-scandal-tougher-vetting-contract-bidders-needed-lawmakers-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:30:08 +0000 Willa Wu,Vivian Au Willa Wu,Vivian Au The Hong Kong government’s procurement system failed to detect document fraud and authorities are taking immediate steps to strengthen it, the head of the logistics department has said, apologising to the public for the first time since a growing water scandal broke out. Government Logistics Department director Carlson Chan Ka-shun said on Thursday that officials understood the case had caused huge public concern over the procurement process. “It has also sparked doubts over the safety of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322620/i-apologise-everyone-hong-kong-official-admits-system-failed-detect-water-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322620/i-apologise-everyone-hong-kong-official-admits-system-failed-detect-water-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:48:38 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Some bottled water brands in Hong Kong are taking advantage of a growing government procurement scandal to promote their products. Watsons Water posted on social media on Wednesday that its products were “safety and quality assured”, highlighting its strictly controlled production processes, which included multiple filtration and high-temperature distillation. The post received almost 380 reactions. Another local drinking water manufacturer, Swire Coca-Cola, posted on Facebook on Tuesday night... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322585/bottled-water-brands-seize-hong-kong-procurement-scandal-promote-products?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322585/bottled-water-brands-seize-hong-kong-procurement-scandal-promote-products?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 01:48:02 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu Hong Kong police have confirmed that a third-party factory in Dongguan, Guangdong province, was commissioned by two fraud suspects to produce bottled water supplied to some government offices in a growing procurement scandal, but said the plant held the relevant licences required by mainland Chinese authorities. The controversy came to light over the weekend when the Government Logistics Department announced that it had “partially terminated” a HK$52.9 million (US$6.8 million) three-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322465/hong-kong-centre-takes-legal-action-against-firm-suspected-water-procurement-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322465/hong-kong-centre-takes-legal-action-against-firm-suspected-water-procurement-fraud?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:45:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong government carries a heavy responsibility as a major procurer of goods and services. While there are well-established procurement guidelines to ensure value for public money, fair competition and accountability, irregularities may still occur, as in the latest suspected water procurement fraud. Officials must expeditiously find out what went wrong and learn from the episode. The controversy came to light last Saturday when the Government Logistics Department announced it had... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322363/clarity-hong-kongs-water-procurement-scandal-needed-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322363/clarity-hong-kongs-water-procurement-scandal-needed-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have ordered an investigation and set up a task force to review official procurement processes after a company supplied bottled water that listed a mainland Chinese brand as a manufacturer without its permission. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau outlined its plan on Sunday, a day after the Government Logistics Department partially terminated a HK$52.9 million deal with bottled water supplier Xin Ding Xin Trade because it doubted whether the company was capable... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322137/hong-kong-government-faces-scrutiny-over-bottled-water-procurement-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322137/hong-kong-government-faces-scrutiny-over-bottled-water-procurement-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:11:15 +0000 Harvey Kong,Denise Tsang Harvey Kong,Denise Tsang Hong Kong authorities have “partially terminated” a new bottled water supply contract awarded to a mainland Chinese company for certain government offices, with police investigating suspected illegal activities. The Government Logistics Department said on Saturday that it doubted Xin Ding Xin Trade Co Ltd was still capable of fulfilling the 36-month contract, which it won just two months ago. The agreement covered the supply of bottled drinking water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322079/hong-kong-suspends-water-supply-deal-mainland-chinese-firm-calls-police?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322079/hong-kong-suspends-water-supply-deal-mainland-chinese-firm-calls-police?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 04:22:20 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to maintain safety as he weighed in on a deal to buy mainland Chinese brands of bottled water for some government offices that will save taxpayers HK$16 million (US$2 million) a year. Lee also said on Sunday that water samples would be checked regularly and the government would cancel the contracts if standards were not met. “For drinking water, we attach much importance to safety. It is reflected in our tendering process,” he said. “Anyone who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320598/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-safety-pledge-over-bottled-water-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320598/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-safety-pledge-over-bottled-water-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 12:08:21 +0000