Leung Chin-man appointment controversy

Last updated

The Leung Chin-man appointment controversy occurred in Hong Kong in August 2008, when the former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Leung Chin-man, was named Deputy Managing Director and Executive Director of New World China Land Ltd.

Contents

There was widespread suspicion among members of the public that job offer was a quid pro quo for the favours he allegedly granted to its parent company, New World Development (NWD), in 2004. [1] The Civil Service Bureau (CSB), which was responsible for vetting the appointments of former civil servants against potential conflicts of interest, admitted to failing in their duty to consider all relevant factors.

Background

In 2004, while Leung was Director of Housing, the government sold an unused Private Sector Participation Scheme project. [2] The sale of the Hung Hom Peninsula HOS housing estate to NWD took place at less than half of the original asking price. [1]

In November 2005, Leung was criticised in an Audit Commission report, for having exercised his discretionary power before conferring with other government departments in 2001. Henderson Land Development had been granted permission to exclude the public transport terminus from the gross floor area in its building plan for their Grand Promenade development, thus gaining additional revenues of HK$3.2 billion as a result of the decision. [3] The effect was to allow the addition of 10,700 square meters to the project. [4]

Procedural rules

Extract from LC Paper
No. CB(1)1786/03-04(03)
[5]

"Policy governing the acceptance of
post-retirement employment of civil servants
"

The basic principle to follow in considering applications is that there should be no impropriety in the proposed employment. In this regard, the Administration takes into account the following factors –

  • (a) whether the officer, while serving in the Government, was involved in policy formulation or decision which could have benefited his prospective employer;
  • (b) whether the prospective employer might gain an unfair advantage over competitors because of the officer's previous knowledge and experience; and
  • (c) the public perception of the officer taking up the proposed business or employment.

Directorate officers wishing to take up outside work, paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, during their final leave period before their formal departure from the Government and/or within a specified control period counting from the said departure, should apply for prior permission from the Secretary for the Civil Service (SCS) in accordance with detailed arrangements set out in CSB Circular No. 10/2005. [6] According to procedures drawn up, civil servants of Leung's grade are subject to a 12-month 'sterilisation period' and required government approval to take up private sector posts within three years of leaving. [5] Procedures laid down required that views from the relevant bureaux be taken into account.

Approval and conditions

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Denise Yue Chung-yee, signed off on the approval for him to take up the job after it passed through the Advisory committee on post-service employment of civil servants, responsible for vetting the appointment. [2]

The Transport and Housing Bureau, the Development Bureau and Administrative Officer Grade Management were asked for their views. On receiving these submissions, the CSB prepared a paper for the Advisory committee to facilitate their consideration. [7]

The view taken by the CSB was that Leung would oversee only mainland business of his future employer, and that bearing in mind he had ceased to be Director of Buildings for six years, and had left the post of Permanent Secretary of Housing two years previously, his appointment was "unlikely to present problems of conflict of interest". [7] In order to address any potential public perception issue, additional conditions were imposed in addition to the standard set of conditions. Accordingly, Leung's employment was to be confined to New World China Land, not represent his employer in dealings with the Government, would refrain from involvement in any Hong Kong related dealings of his direct employer, and not to disclose sensitive or classified information to his employer. [7] On 4 July 2008, the committee submitted its recommendation to the SCS to approve Leung's appointment, and the SCS duly gave her approval on 8 July, on the terms stipulated. [7]

Reaction

For many citizens, the incident was proof that there was collusion between the government and big business. Controversies surrounded not only the suspicions of Leung's own conflict of interest, but also of the insensitivity of the committee which recommended the approval for him to take up his new job with a HK$3.12 million pay packet, plus bonus, so soon after his retirement. [1] Mr. Justice Pang Kin-kee, who chaired the vetting committee, was also himself criticised for conflict of interest for his close friendship with Leung. Political scientist Ma Ngok said "It is inevitable that the public will consider the advisory committee to be just a rubber stamp when the approval rate was 100%." [1] Albert Cheng commented: "[the] controversial appointment is a political time bomb, which threatens to seriously undermine the authority of the administration." [8] Senior Non-Expatriate Officers Association chairman Poon Wai-ming argued that the controversy arose from a lack of strict enforcement of the procedures, and not their inadequacies. [4] New World argued that they hired Leung in good faith after government clearance. Albert Chan of the League of Social Democrats and 50 members of the public filed a complaint with the Independent Commission Against Corruption days after his appointment became public. [1]

The Secretary for the Civil Service came under fire for approving an appointment that gives the strong appearance of a conflict of interest. Chief Executive Donald Tsang asked the Secretary for the Civil Service to account for the approval process in a written report. [9]

On 13 August 2008, Apple Daily reported that the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office had asked the Hong Kong government to solve the problem on or before 24 August, and that the best way forward would be for Leung to resign from NWD. [10] However, The Standard reports that the Apple assertions "could not be substantiated". [11] However, an unnamed top Beijing official in Hong Kong was quoted in the South China Morning Post as warning, without specifically identifying the subject he was referring to, that conflicts among interest groups may threaten Hong Kong's stability if not properly handled. [12]

SCS report

On 15 August, the Civil Service Bureau issued the report requested by Donald Tsang where they admitted that they had not considered Leung's role in the Hung Hom Peninsula affair when approving his application, [13] and was thus not mentioned in the report to the Advisory Committee or the subsequent submission to the SCS. [7] Although the Works branch and the Transport and Housing branch suggested that there may be a "public perception issue", neither believed that the appointment was "[likely to].. create a negative impact or embarrass the government" because his role was in mainland subsidiary. [14] Donald Tsang asked the SCS to reassess the approval, and submit a report to him. [15]

New World Development announced in the early hours of 16 August that Leung had resigned from his post, and would not be seeking compensation from the government, for its "inappropriate handling". [16] Leung professed his "shock" to learn that officials had not considered his role in the Hung Hom Peninsula sale, and tendered his resignation. [16] It was understood that the reassessment by the SCS would take place notwithstanding Leung's resignation. [17]

Political fallout

Yue lost credibility within and outside government circles as a result of the case, but said she hoped to stay in her position. Commentator Chris Yeung stated that Tsang's request for the bureaux to do their job again deals a body blow to the authority and image of Yue and the bureaux. [17] A SCMP editorial criticised the "glaring lack of political sense of some of our senior officials." [18] Lee Wing-tat said it was clear from the episode that the government considered the public stupid. Albert Cheng pointed to the composition of the four-man Advisory committee, saying that issues would have been flagged had it included pan-democrats instead of just establishment figures. [19]

There were only muted calls for Secretary's resignation. Commentators suggested that parties feared that demands for Yue's resignation would alienate civil servants in the forthcoming LegCo elections. [20]

The next day, Donald Tsang confirmed that Denise Yue would not have to resign. He was satisfied with her apology and with the explanations offered by her. Tsang ordered a committee, of which Yue was to be a member, to be set up to perform a sweeping review of the system to process applications for former civil servants. This sparked fears among civil servants that their job opportunities after retirement would be curtailed. [21]

In an op-ed, Christopher Cheung states that Leung was quickly sentenced by the court of public opinion, and was "dangerously close to mob rule". The facts of the case rested on guidelines introduced in January 2006 which "elevate public opinion to the level of tyranny", and whose rigid entry and exit criteria from the civil service stand in the way of modernising the civil service. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Hong Kong</span> Political system of Hong Kong

The politics of Hong Kong takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by its quasi-constitutional document, the Hong Kong Basic Law, its own legislature, the Chief Executive as the head of government and of the Special Administrative Region and of a politically constrained multi-party presidential system. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is led by the Chief Executive, the head of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Hong Kong</span> Executive authorities of Hong Kong

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government, is the executive authorities of Hong Kong. It was formed on 1 July 1997 in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1983, an international treaty lodged at the United Nations. This government replaced the former British Hong Kong Government (1842–1997). The Chief Executive and the principal officials are appointed by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The Government Secretariat is headed by the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, who is the most senior principal official of the Government. The Chief Secretary and the other secretaries jointly oversee the administration of Hong Kong, give advice to the Chief Executive as members of the Executive Council, and are accountable for their actions and policies to the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal Party (Hong Kong)</span> Political party in Hong Kong

The Liberal Party (LP) is a pro-Beijing, pro-business, and conservative political party in Hong Kong. Led by Tommy Cheung and chaired by Peter Shiu, it holds four seats in the Legislative Council, and holds five seats in the District Councils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Tsang</span> Hong Kong politician (born 1944)

Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is a former Hong Kong civil servant who served as the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong from 2005 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New World Development</span> Hong Kong-based company

New World Development Company Limited (NWD), is a Hong Kong-based company focused on property, hotels, infrastructure and services and department stores. It was established on 29 May 1970 by Cheng Yu-tung. The company is publicly listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited since 23 November 1972 and is a constituent stock of Hong Kong Hang Seng Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Rowse</span>

Michael "Mike" John Treloar Rowse is a Hong Kong public figure. A naturalised citizen of the People's Republic of China, Rowse was the Director-General of InvestHK, a department of the Hong Kong Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Principal Officials Accountability System</span> Hong Kong political system

Principal Officials Accountability System, commonly referred to as the Ministerial system, sometimes the Accountability System, was introduced in Hong Kong by chief executive Tung Chee Hwa in July 2002. It is a system whereby all principal officials, including the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, Secretary for Justice and head of government bureaux would no longer be politically neutral career civil servants. Instead, they would all be political appointees chosen by the chief executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Tsang</span> Former Hong Kong politician

John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP is a Hong Kong former senior civil servant and government official who was the longest-serving Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR to date, from 2007 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Yue</span> Hong Kong politician

Denise Yue Chung-yee GBS JP was a Hong Kong politician and Secretary for the Civil Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rimsky Yuen</span> Hong Kong barrister

Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung is a barrister who served as the third Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong from 2012 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political Appointments System</span>

The Political Appointments System is a scheme introduced in 2008 by the Hong Kong Government to reinforce its ministerial team by superseding the Principal Officials Accountability System and inserting two layers of politically appointed officials below the secretaries, who are political appointees. These appointees report only to the secretaries, but not the permanent secretaries, the highest-ranking civil servants. The appointment of undersecretaries and political assistants is an extension of the previous RPAS that was initially confined to principal officials. Prior to the introduction, there were 14 political appointees—3 Secretaries of Departments and 11 Directors of Bureaux.

Leung Chin-man JP is a retired senior civil servant in the Government of Hong Kong the former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.

Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee, SBS is a former Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Tsang government</span>

The Second term of Donald Tsang as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, officially referred to as "The 3rd term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2012. Former civil-servant Donald Tsang was the Chief Executive throughout the duration.

The 2010 Hong Kong electoral reform was the series of events began in 2009 and finalised in 2010 under the Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2012, a document published on 18 November 2009 by the Government of Hong Kong to broaden the scope of political participation and increase the democratic elements in the 2012 elections in line with the Hong Kong Basic Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leung government</span>

The administration of Leung Chun-ying as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, officially referred to as "The 4th term Chief Executive of Hong Kong" relates to the period of governance of Hong Kong since the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election</span> Election in Hong Kong

The 2017 Hong Kong Chief Executive election was held on 26 March 2017 for the 5th term of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong (CE), the highest office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Former Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam beat former Financial Secretary John Tsang and retired judge Woo Kwok-hing, receiving 777 votes from the 1,194-member Election Committee.

The Wang Chau housing controversy comprises a series of events related to a housing project in Wang Chau, Yuen Long District, Hong Kong. Initiated in 2012, the housing project aims to develop 17,000 public housing units in three phases. Phase 1 refers to ongoing development of 4,000 units in a "green-belt" site; while phases 2 and 3 refer to the deferred plan to build the rest of the targeted units in the "brownfield" site. The case came under media scrutiny after activist Eddie Chu Hoi-dick raised concerns about potential collusion between the Hong Kong government, businesses and rural landlords in his election campaign.

Michael Sze Cho-cheung, GBS, CBE, ISO, JP was a Hong Kong government official. He held various government positions including Secretary for Constitutional Affairs from 1991 to 1994 and Secretary for the Civil Service from 1994 to 1996. He was executive director of the Trade Development Council (DTC) from 1996 to 2004 and chairman of the Operations Review Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) until 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan Pescod</span> Hong Kong civil servant

Duncan Warren Pescod is the former director of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, a statutory body of the Hong Kong Government.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Daniel Sin (9 August 2008). "Tsang's civil unrest". South China Morning Post. pp. A14.
  2. 1 2 Diana Lee (5 August 2008). "Former housing chief faces legal bid to demolish his job with developer". The Standard. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  3. "Audit chief backs lawmakers in Promenade row". The Standard. Hong Kong. 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  4. 1 2 Albert Wong (25 May 2006). "Audit chief in deal on judicial review". The Standard. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  5. 1 2 "Discussion paper: Policy governing the acceptance of post-retirement employment of civil servants" (PDF) (LC Paper No. CB(1)1786/03–04(03)). Legislative Council, Hong Kong.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "Post-service Outside Work". CIvil Service Bureau, Government of Hong Kong.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Report on the processing of the application from Mr Leung Chin-man to take up post-service outside work with New World China Land Limited" (PDF). Civil Service Bureau, Govt of Hong Kong. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. op-ed: Albert Cheng (9 August 2008). "Legal, but is it right?". South China Morning Post. pp. A13.
  9. Nickkita Lau (8 August 2008). "Spat over Leung retirement job prompts review". The Standard. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.
  10. "北京發功逼退梁展文". Apple Daily. Hong Kong. 13 August 2008. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  11. "Hiring snub to civil servants". The Standard. 14 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  12. Fanny Fung (14 August 2008). "Conflicts could harm city's stability, Beijing official warns". South China Morning Post.
  13. Secretary for the Civil Service (15 August 2008). "SCS submits report to Chief Executive on Leung Chin-man's case" (Press release). Civil Service Bureau, Hong Kong Government.
  14. Gary Cheung (16 August 2008). "Officials didn't see decision causing a row". South China Morning Post. pp. A10.
  15. Chief Executive of Hong Kong (15 August 2008). "Statement of the Chief Executive's Office" (Press release). Chief Executive's Office, Hong Kong Government.
  16. 1 2 Cheung Chi-fai (16 August 2008). "Ex-housing chief shocked officials didn't consider Hung Hom deal". South China Morning Post. pp. A10.
  17. 1 2 Chris Yeung (17 August 2008). "Despite rethink, episode has done damage". South China Morning Post. pp. op–ed.
  18. "job row show glaring lack of political sense". South China Morning Post. 16 August 2008. pp. A14.
  19. op-ed: Albert Cheng (16 August 2008). "To serve and collect". South China Morning Post. pp. A13.
  20. Ambrose Leung & Gary Cheung (16 August 2008). "Critics of ex-official's job approval focus on system, not the minister". South China Morning Post. pp. A10.
  21. Eva Wu (17 August 2008). "Tsang orders sweeping review after job storm". South China Morning Post. pp. A6.
  22. Christopher Cheung (21 August 2008). "No way to govern". South China Morning Post. pp. A15.