Food and Health Secretary Dr Ko Wing-man (pictured) said he was shocked by former development chief Mak Chai-kwong's alleged abuse of a civil service rent subsidy in the 1980s and Mak's subsequent resignation.
Ko, the first minister to speak candidly since Mak's arrest last Thursday by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, said he did not regret joining the government.
'This was a price I was willing to pay. But still I feel a bit sorry for my family,' said Ko yesterday as the two-week-old administration of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying faces ongoing controversies.
Leung has come under renewed fire for refusing to take a stand over the death of mainland dissident Li Wangyang, who was found hanged in Hunan province on June 6.
Ko said the atmosphere had been heavy at recent meetings between Leung and his cabinet.
'I can see from each other's eyes that we are not feeling at ease, but I can also feel the support we have for each other as a team,' he said.
But he admitted that 'the kitchen is hotter than I thought' and that the temperature had reached an 'uncomfortable level'.