Govt procurement chief’s absence raises eyebrows in water contract scandal

As scrutiny intensifies over the government's bottled water procurement, Carlson Chan Ka-shun, Director of the Government Logistics Department (GLD), has remained conspicuously absent from public view during the unfolding controversy.

The GLD awarded a three-year, HK$52.9 million contract in June to Xin Ding Xin Trade Co. (XDX) to supply "Xin Le Guan Yin Shan" bottled water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and outlying islands.

However, the purported manufacturer, Robust (Guangdong) Drinking Water Co., subsequently denied any business relationship with XDX, prompting the government to terminate the contract.

Despite the GLD's responsibility for handling the water supply contracts, Chan has been notably absent from his Wan Chai office since the controversy emerged.

He was also missing from official photographs released after an emergency meeting convened by Secretary for Financial Services Christopher Hui Ching-yu with Central Tender Board members on Sunday (August 17).

Background on Carlson Chan

Chan joined the civil service in September 1987 and has served in various decision-making bureaus and departments, including the former City and New Territories Administration and the Environmental Protection Department.

After serving as the Chief Executive's private secretary from July 2012 to October 2016, he has been the Director (Special Duties) in the Transport and Housing Bureau (later renamed Director (Special Duties), Housing Bureau) and Director of Sales for the First-hand Residential Properties Authority since December 2020.

Chan has been appointed the head of the Government Logistics Department since July 2022.

Due to retire this year?

According to internal civil service documents, Chan, currently 60 years old, is at the retirement age for civil servants appointed in 1987. 

Unconfirmed reports indicated that Chan will retire in two weeks, but there has been no official announcement regarding his replacement or any arrangements for his pre-retirement leave.

These rumors were further fueled by Chan receiving the Gold Bauhinia Star earlier this year, alongside retired Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Foo Siu-wai,  Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Eddie Mak Tak-wai, and Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Clement Leung Cheuk-man.
Following the incident, Tam Yiu-chung, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, stated in an interview that the award was based on the recommendation from the Civil Service Bureau, reflecting Carlson Chan's past performance. 

Tam noted that as the investigation is still ongoing, it is unclear who will bear responsibility.

Meanwhile, Tam said the honor was granted based on an official’s decades of commendable service, adding that revocation would be an extraordinary measure requiring due process.