Hong Kong logistics head begins pre-retirement leave after water scandal

The head of Hong Kong’s logistics department, embroiled in a water procurement scandal, has started his pre-retirement leave.

According to the latest government gazette, Carlson Chan Ka-shun ceased to be the director of the Government Logistics Department on Friday as he began his pre-retirement leave.

His former deputy, Avia Lai Wong Shuk-han, was appointed as the acting director of the department.

Last month, the government was caught in a bottled water procurement scandal in which the logistics department awarded a three-year HK$52.9 million (US$6.8 million) contract to Xin Ding Xin Trade, which allegedly used fraudulent documents.

The company, chosen to supply bottled drinking water to some government offices, is suspected of scamming the department and breaching the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Chan earlier made a public apology “on behalf of the department” amid the scandal.