appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Ng Kang-chung

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to maintain safety as he weighed in on a deal to buy mainland Chinese brands of bottled water for some government offices that will save taxpayers HK$16 million (US$2 million) a year.
Lee also said on Sunday that water samples would be checked regularly and the government would cancel the contracts if standards were not met.
“For drinking water, we attach much importance to safety. It is reflected in our tendering process,” he said.
“Anyone who places a bid must produce a certification of water quality issued by an independent laboratory. Our system also requires the supplier to submit certification from time to time, not only during the tendering process.
“We will also take water samples for regular checks. If we find that [the water quality] does not meet our standards, we can immediately end the contractual relationship with [the supplier].”
Lee said the government would not compromise on water quality and he was confident that the prevailing system had been effectively and stringently enforced.
He was speaking to reporters after a town hall session to gauge public views ahead of this year’s policy address next month.
The brouhaha began in June after the Government Logistics Department for the first time awarded drinking water supply contracts for some offices to mainland suppliers. The new three-year contracts are worth a total of HK$166 million.

Some civil servants have reportedly expressed concerns about the quality of the mainland products.
Under the new arrangements, different suppliers will provide bottled water for government offices in different regions of the city.
Hong Kong’s AS Watsons Group – a unit of billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings – won a HK$47.6 million contract to supply its COOL distilled water to government offices in Kowloon.
A HK$65.5 million contract was awarded to Professional Trade International, which will provide a mainland brand of bottled water, “Happy Xishi”, which means “happy, happy guys”, to New Territories offices.
Offices on Hong Kong Island and outlying islands will get water from mainland supplier Xin Ding Xin Trade Company. The brand is “Guanyinshan”, or “mountain of the Goddess of Mercy”, and the contract is worth HK$52.9 million.
The manufacturer of Guanyinshan pure drinking water is based in Taihe township in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district, according to its label.
The previous two-year contract was worth HK$142.9 million with local suppliers AS Watsons Group and Swire Coca-Cola.
Under the new arrangements, taxpayers can save on average about HK$16.2 million a year on bottled water supplies for the city’s around 170,000 civil servants.
The Government Logistics Department said the suppliers were selected through an open tender in March as the original contracts were about to expire.
It stressed that there were tender requirements that the bottled drinking water had to meet specified technical specifications and standards.
“The same technical specifications are used in this and the previous tender,” it said.
“As with previous contracts, this contract also requires the successful suppliers to submit bimonthly test reports issued by an independent accredited laboratory to certify that the drinking water they provide meets the contractual requirements.
“The first report is due to be submitted to the department in August.
“The government will also collect drinking water samples for testing from time to time during the contract period to ensure that the drinking water meets the contractual requirements.”


Hong Kong’s fight against cancer must begin with early screening

Hong Kong minister vows to give public account of Queen Mary Hospital lift saga

Minister rejects claims mainland Chinese nurses are favoured over local candidates

US regulators back multi-cancer blood test – but Hong Kong doctors remain cautious

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong leader John Lee in safety pledge over bottled water deals

The Guanyinshan brand will be supplied to offices on Hong Kong Island and outlying islands. Photo: Handout

Chief Executive John Lee held a policy address town hall session on Sunday. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong will make National Games ‘unforgettable experience’ for all, city’s leader says

John Lee (centre) has said Hong Kong will focus on optimising the competition process, refining service arrangements, strengthening safety assurances and conducting final tests and drills. Photo: Dickson Lee

Officials mark 100 days to go before the start of the National Games. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s John Lee vows to ‘remove regulatory shackles’ ahead of policy address

Chief Executive John Lee has said this year’s policy address will be held in September. Photo: Edmond So

The city’s other principal officials also attended the town hall meeting. Photo: Handout

City leader Lee has said he believes policymaking by any government needs to consider both macro and micro aspects. Photo: Edmond So

John Lee vows to make Hong Kong ‘preferred destination’ after 12% surge in tourists

People gather at Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong has logged a 12 per cent increase in tourist arrivals between January and June this year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Accelerating Northern Metropolis considered priority by Hongkongers: John Lee

The Northern Metropolis aims to turn part of the New Territories into an economic powerhouse and a housing hub. Photo: May Tse

Chief Executive John Lee appears at his second town hall meeting for his annual policy address. Photo: Edmond So

The city leader has he said he has heard positive feedback about the premium taxi fleets, adding that they need time to adjust. Photo: May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

For the first time, the government has awarded contracts to mainland Chinese brands to supply drinking water to certain offices


For the first time, the government has awarded contracts to mainland Chinese brands to supply drinking water to certain offices.


Hong Kong leader John Lee in safety pledge over bottled water deals

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}For the first time, the government has awarded contracts to mainland Chinese brands to supply drinking water to certain offices

For the first time, the government has awarded contracts to mainland Chinese brands to supply drinking water to certain offices