The Government Logistics Department (GLD) released 229 pages of tender documents on Thursday after admitting procedural shortcomings in its bottled water procurement process, following the scandal involving supplier Xin Ding Xin (XDX) Trading Co. that provided counterfeit water.
The Director of GLD, Carlson Chan Ka-shun publicly apologized during a press conference, acknowledging deficiencies in the bidding system that allowed the problematic contract to proceed. The documents revealed comprehensive requirements for bidders, including detailed specifications about water production origins, manufacturer details, brand names, capacity per bottle, and factory addresses.
According to the May 2025 tender documents obtained by Sing Tao Daily, the bidding required water purification through distillation or reverse osmosis without additives, compliance with ISO9001 and ISO14001 production standards, and use of 18-19 liter sealed reusable buckets compatible with water dispensers. The specifications also mandated meeting all Hong Kong regulations including Food Safety Centre's microbiological standards for packaged drinking water.
The tender, signed by Procurement Division Controller Steven Tsang Chiu-ki, closed on May 2 with price specifications requiring bidders to quote delivery costs to Hong Kong Island, outlying islands, Kowloon, New Territories, Lantau Island and beaches separately.
Chan confirmed Xin Ding Xin (XDX) Trading won the contract through being the lowest bidder that met technical requirements, though he emphasized the government prioritizes quality compliance before considering price. The admission follows the termination of all contracts with the supplier after it was found using falsified documents to secure the HK$52.94 million agreement.
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