Ex-Hong Kong logistics head stripped of award, 3 staff face action in water scandal

Hong Kong authorities will hold three officers from the logistics department accountable over their roles in a bottled water procurement scandal, while its former head had his Silver Bauhinia Star nomination rescinded despite being cleared of direct oversight.Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on Tuesday that a probe into the scandal involving the HK$166 million (US$21.3 million) bottled water procurement contract last year found that two staff members from the Government Logistics Department would face a disciplinary hearing.She said staff failed to perform their duties and lacked the awareness, judgment and analytical ability to identify issues and report them to their superiors in time, adding that such shortcomings were widespread in the department.Former department director Carlson Chan Ka-shun is believed to be the highest-ranking civil servant among the quartet, although Yeung declined to name them, citing privacy concerns.Carlson Chan has been cleared of direct oversight. Photo: Karma LoHe was selected to receive a Silver Bauhinia Star from the government, but his name was later removed from the list of awardees at the presentation ceremony in November.