https://www.scmp.com/rss/522850/feed The latest news and top stories on Audit Commission. A prominent Hong Kong-based governmental oversight body, the Audit Commission is dedicated to providing independent professional quality audit services. Its primary mission is to help the Government and public sector organisations enhance performance and accountability in Hong Kong. Headquartered in Wan Chai, it conducts regularity audits and value for money audits of government bureau departments and public bodies. Established in 1844, it is... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has yet to launch prosecutions in 34 cases involving mini-storage premises that failed to comply with safety hazard orders, including sites first inspected as far back as 2016, the Audit Commission has said. The commission also revealed on Wednesday that none of the 249 industrial buildings required to improve fire safety measures in their common parts had complied with the orders issued under a law that took effect in 2020. Fire safety at industrial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351857/hong-kong-auditor-takes-aim-fire-services-over-delayed-safety-hazard-prosecutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351857/hong-kong-auditor-takes-aim-fire-services-over-delayed-safety-hazard-prosecutions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:39:40 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have failed to meet targets on the supply and construction of youth hostels, with the number of flats offered accounting for only 44 per cent of what was intended, an audit report has found. The Audit Commission on Wednesday released its report reviewing the government’s development and management of the facilities under the Youth Hostel Scheme, which covered seven hostels, including two that had been completed and were in operation. The review found that as of December... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351848/youth-hostel-scheme-falls-short-only-44-expected-flats-offered-audit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351848/youth-hostel-scheme-falls-short-only-44-expected-flats-offered-audit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:13:32 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Counterfeit bricks in MTR’s Tung Chung East station project, improperly sourced bottled water for government departments, substandard trainers for lifeguards – recent scandals in Hong Kong have aroused controversies rooted in the government’s public procurement process. Few Hongkongers have the vaguest idea of the scale of government procurement, even though it is everywhere around us. The Government Transparency Institute, which tries to monitor government procurement worldwide, estimates it... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325245/hong-kongs-procurement-scandals-reminder-constant-vigilance-needed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325245/hong-kongs-procurement-scandals-reminder-constant-vigilance-needed?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:30:09 +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 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 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