Audit Director says water procurement investigation to be completed within a month

The investigation into the recent government drinking water procurement scandal is expected to be completed within a month, according to Director of Audit Nelson Lam Chi-yuen. He added that enforcement measures will follow if any violations are discovered.

Responding to public concerns regarding the transparency of the probe, Lam revealed that the Audit Commission had been aware of the situation even before receiving a formal invitation to investigate from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau.

Lam, who noted that he is himself a consumer of the bottled water in question, assured the public that his team would conduct a thorough examination. The investigation will include an enhanced evaluation of the department's internal controls.

He added that if significant issues are uncovered, a value-for-money audit may also be initiated.

When asked if the investigation would focus on the Government Logistics Department's (GLD) decision to forgo a marking scheme during the tender evaluation, Lam declined to comment on specific details but reiterated his commitment to addressing all public complaints.

Lam also clarified that there have been no attempts by high-ranking officials to influence the audit process, emphasizing that he has operated under no external pressure throughout the investigation.

Regarding the public release of the findings, Lam indicated that the specific details are still being determined due to various factors. He assured that if any internal deficiencies are discovered, his department would promptly communicate with the relevant parties to facilitate immediate improvements.

Lam confirmed that any officials found to have breached the law would have their cases transferred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

He also cited Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu’s commitment to making the investigation report public. The report will subsequently be submitted to the Legislative Council, where it is anticipated that the Public Accounts Committee will follow up on its findings.