HK govt offices replace local bottlers with mainland suppliers

Hong Kong's Government Logistics Department has awarded drinking water supply contracts for government offices to mainland Chinese firms for the first time, a move expected to save approximately HK$16 million annually.

The change comes as part of a new three-year, HK$166 million contract that will see different suppliers providing bottled water across various regions of the city.

The new arrangement designates Watsons Group to supply its COOL distilled water to Kowloon offices, while Professional Trade International Limited will provide “Happy Xishi” bottled water to New Territories locations.

Most notably, Hong Kong Island and outlying islands will receive water from mainland supplier Xin Ding Xin Trade Co., Limited under its “Xinle” brand, which carries the "Guanyinshan" label on its bottles.

This transition marks a significant shift from the previous two-year contract worth HK$143 million, which exclusively featured local suppliers Watsons Group and Swire Coca-Cola's bottled water.

Government officials emphasize that the selection process maintained rigorous quality standards despite the cost savings.

The department confirmed that all suppliers must continue meeting strict requirements under Hong Kong's Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, with regular testing conducted to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

"The tender specifications remained unchanged from previous bids," a department spokesperson stated, addressing potential concerns about water quality.

(Marco Lam)