Red tape leaves Hong Kong waterfront Ferris wheel bidder bitter
Businessman says bid was denied when he filed a document a day late
An unsuccessful bidder to build a Ferris wheel on the harbourfront says the government missed out on HK$25.2 million because it was too inflexible to consider his offer after he submitted a document one working day late.
Hong Kong's answer to the London Eye is due to open in September. A three-year contract to operate the wheel was awarded more than a year ago to Swiss AEX, but the site at Central ferry piers 9 and 10 remained empty until recently.
Anson Chan Yiu-cheung, chairman of the Bonds Group of Companies, said he had submitted a tender for the project - along with a cashier's order for HK$9.3 million - but was told by the Lands Department eight months later his bid had been rejected because it was filed on December 17, 2012, a Monday. It was due on December 14, a Friday.
Chan said he had offered monthly rental of HK$1.55 million for a three-year lease. That is nearly double the HK$850,000 rent to be paid by Swiss AEX - and an extra HK$25.2 million over the life of the contract.
But Chan said the government had lost that extra revenue thanks to its inflexible approach. "By being so rigid about the deadline they've thrown away HK$25.2 million on that contract," he said.
A Lands Department spokesman said any bids that did not meet the requirements set out in the tender notice would be rejected, and late submissions would not be accepted. He added that all unsuccessful bidders had been informed and cashier's orders returned once the contract was awarded.