The government announced a series of senior civil service appointments on Tuesday, including a new Director of Government Logistics following the departure of Carlson Chan.

Vicki Kwok, currently the private secretary to the chief executive, will take up the top logistics post on October 27.

She succeeds Chan, who commenced his pre-retirement leave on September 19.

Chan had been in charge of the department when a scandal broke out involving a contract for the supply of bottled drinking water to government offices on Hong Kong Island and some outlying islands.

The three-year contract, worth HK$52.9 million, was terminated after the supplier was alleged to have used fraudulent documents to secure the government procurement exercise.

Following Chan's leave, his deputy Avia Lai had been serving as the acting director.

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui previously said Chan's pre-retirement leave was a "normal arrangement". He also pointed out that a task force is now reviewing the tender exercise and conducting follow-up measures.

In other senior moves, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics Kevin Choi will become the permanent secretary for innovation, technology and industry on October 27.

He takes over from Eddie Mak, who has also begun pre-retirement leave.

Succeeding Choi on November 17 will be Vic Yau, the current director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung congratulated both Mak and Chan on their retirements. She thanked them for their over 30 years of public service and their significant contributions to the government.

Commenting on the new appointees, Yeung expressed full confidence in their abilities.

"The appointees are seasoned administrative officers with proven leadership and management skills," she said.

"I have every confidence that they will continue to serve the community with professionalism in their new posts."