**Hong Kong Government Awards Contract to Swire Coca-Cola Following Bottled Water Scandal** The Hong Kong Government Logistics Department has awarded a HK$31.9 million contract to Swire Coca-Cola to supply Bonaqua water to certain government offices, marking a significant development following a high-profile bottled water procurement scandal last year. The 27-month contract, announced on Tuesday, involves the supply of over 1.46 million bottles of drinking water to offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands. The contract was awarded after an open tender launched in December, which included specific requirements for suppliers. According to the tender documents, bidders were expected to demonstrate a market share of over 10 years, a minimum of 50 sales channels, and a daily order delivery capacity of at least 100 orders. Additionally, if the bottled water is imported, suppliers must meet the qualifications of a food importer and submit a safety test report. Bidders with a total bid price exceeding HK$15 million were also required to pass a financial review, pay a contract deposit, and allow authorities to conduct an on-site inspection. Swire Coca-Cola has previously secured a bottled water supply contract involving 1.35 million bottles of drinking water for HK$40.5 million in June 2023. The company's latest win comes after the government faced scrutiny over a three-year HK$52.9 million bottled water supply contract awarded to Xin Ding Xin Trade last August. The contract, which marked the first time mainland Chinese suppliers won the contract, was allegedly marred by fraudulent documents submitted by Xin Ding Xin Trade, which is suspected of defrauding the department and breaching the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The scandal led to a significant overhaul of the government's procurement process, with a focus on ensuring transparency and accountability.