发布时间: 12/30/2025
The Fallout of the "Fake Water" Scandal: Investigation Wraps Up
Remember the recent uproar surrounding the government's accidental procurement of "shanzhai" (knock-off) bottled water? It sparked quite the controversy regarding public spending and vetting processes. Fast forward to today, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) has officially provided a progress update on both the review of the government's procurement mechanisms and the specific disciplinary investigation into that bottled water fiasco.
According to a spokesperson from the bureau, the disciplinary probe into the incident has recently concluded. Currently, the government is meticulously reviewing the investigation report. They are in the process of consulting the Department of Justice to determine the appropriate disciplinary actions to take against those responsible. The public won't have to wait too long for answers; the results are expected to be finalized next month and will be published alongside the comprehensive report from the specialized task force.
Tightening the Net: Anti-Fraud Measures in Place
Under the leadership of Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, the task force has been busy. Back in October, they rolled out a series of preliminary measures designed to clamp down on fraud. Since then, they haven't stopped there; the team has been actively exploring further optimizations and has now completed a full review of the existing government procurement system to plug any remaining gaps.
New Tenders, New Rules
Moving forward with these lessons learned, the Government Logistics Department (GLD) launched a public tender today for the supply of bottled drinking water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and certain outlying islands.
This isn't business as usual, though. Following the new guidelines issued in October, this tender exercise incorporates much stricter requirements. From the preparation of tender documents to the evaluation of bids and ongoing contract management, every stage has been fortified. The goal is clear: to help procurement officers effectively spot and stop potential fraud while selecting suppliers who actually have the capacity to deliver a stable supply of water according to contract terms.