Hong Kong water scandal: tougher vetting of contract bidders needed, lawmakers say
Legislators have accused the government of accepting information submitted by contract bidders at face value
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.
Authorities said on Friday that the Government Logistic Department had also terminated another three contracts in connection with Xin Ding Xin and its directors. The contracts in question were awarded to Sino Ocean Enterprises (HK) Ltd, led by Lui Tsz-chung, a director of Xin Ding Xin Trade.
The government said the contracts for the provision of bleach, bleaching powder and tablets were worth nearly HK$2 million.
In the tender document for the water deal, provided by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau on Thursday, the government said it would consider a bid based on various factors, including whether it complied with sample evaluation, delivery and certification requirements.