https://www.scmp.com/rss/522843/feed The latest news and top stories on Carlson Chan Ka-shun. An Administrative Officer, he has held roles in Hong Kong's public service, including Private Secretary to the Chief Executive and Commissioner for Labour. Leading the Government Logistics Department, his remit covers government procurement, supplies management, transport operations and printing services. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Beijing recently invited Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun to pay a visit to mainland China from April 7 to 12, an invitation she promptly accepted. The last time a sitting chairperson of the KMT visited the mainland was 10 years ago. On November 1, 2025, Cheng was... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348808/why-kmt-leaders-planned-visit-mainland-china-significant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348808/why-kmt-leaders-planned-visit-mainland-china-significant?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Accountability is at the core of a disciplinary investigation into the scandal involving the procurement of bottled water for government offices last year. Equally important is that lessons are learned and the appropriate punishment meted out to those responsible so as to serve as a stern warning for civil servants who fail to discharge their duties conscientiously. It has been found that three Government Logistics Department officers did not perform up to the standards commensurate with their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340646/bottled-water-scandal-should-prompt-civil-servants-exercise-due-diligence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340646/bottled-water-scandal-should-prompt-civil-servants-exercise-due-diligence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Ambrose Li,Jess Ma Ambrose Li,Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities will hold three officers from the logistics department accountable over their roles in a bottled water procurement scandal, while its former head had his Silver Bauhinia Star nomination rescinded despite being cleared of direct oversight. Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on Tuesday that an investigation into the scandal involving the HK$166 million (US$21.3 million) bottled water procurement contract last year found that two staff members from the Government... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340499/hong-kong-logistics-head-stripped-award-3-staff-face-action-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340499/hong-kong-logistics-head-stripped-award-3-staff-face-action-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:11:59 +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 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong authorities are expected to announce next month the results of their investigation into a bottled water scandal that rocked the city and take disciplinary action against those officials involved after confirming that the probe has been completed. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, which set up a task force to probe the scandal that emerged in August, on Tuesday said both the review of the government’s procurement system and related disciplinary investigation had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338190/hong-kong-set-unveil-results-disciplinary-action-after-bottled-water-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338190/hong-kong-set-unveil-results-disciplinary-action-after-bottled-water-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:44:20 +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 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 Harvey Kong,Fiona Sun Harvey Kong,Fiona Sun A new accountability system for senior civil servants aims to strengthen the fitness of government departments and raise public trust in authorities, Hong Kong’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu told a radio programme on Saturday that the measure would push department heads to consistently look for areas for improvement, likening the practice to regular exercise. In his annual policy blueprint on Wednesday, Lee introduced the “Heads of Department Accountability System”, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326251/hong-kongs-new-civil-servant-accountability-system-ensure-government-keeps-fit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326251/hong-kongs-new-civil-servant-accountability-system-ensure-government-keeps-fit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:47:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The departmental head who apologised for a HK$52.9 million (US$6.8 million) government water procurement scandal has begun pre-retirement leave, in what a minister has said is a normal arrangement, while the incident remains under review. It may not come under the accountability system proposed in the chief executive’s policy address, but Carlson Chan Ka-shun’s exit as director of the Government Logistics Department will be seen as consistent with the government’s resolve to strengthen... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326171/accountability-system-hong-kongs-top-civil-servants-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326171/accountability-system-hong-kongs-top-civil-servants-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:15:12 +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 Willa Wu,Olga Wong Willa Wu,Olga Wong Hong Kong’s leader will introduce a mechanism to hold senior civil servants accountable for their misconduct in his policy blueprint, targeting incidents such as a recent bottled water supply scandal, the Post has learned. But political observers have warned of a possible pushback from civil servants concerned about job security, while recommending the government implement gradual changes with robust investigative procedures. According to a government source, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325437/hong-kongs-john-lee-tackle-civil-servant-accountability-policy-address?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325437/hong-kongs-john-lee-tackle-civil-servant-accountability-policy-address?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 01:00:29 +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 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 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