Former housing chief Leung Chin-man's appointment as deputy managing director of New World China Land in 2008 after retirement triggered heated controversy.

Leung, who played a key role in the cut-price sale of new harbourfront government flats to a joint venture involving New World, held the jobs for only two weeks. He stepped down hours after Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen ordered a review of the Civil Service Bureau's decision to allow him to take up the appointments. He had already been in the headlines. Shortly after his retirement and before his appointment to New World China Land, Leung was heavily criticised by the Audit Commissioner for granting Henderson Land extra gross floor area for its Grand Promenade project.

Leung is not the first retired official to go into the private sector. Frederick Ma Si-hang became chairman and non-executive director of China Strategic Holdings a year after he stood down as secretary for commerce and economic development, citing health reasons. China Strategic said Ma was offered a salary of HK$3.5 million a year.