Education chief Michael Suen Ming-yeung was released from hospital yesterday after a 12-day bout with legionnaires' disease.
He expects to resume work on January 9, but given the strong suspicions he caught the potentially deadly bug at the new government headquarters in Admiralty, some of the civil servants who work there are said to be terrified about returning to the Tamar office complex.
The 67-year-old, who is on kidney dialysis, announced he was 'fully recovered' as he left Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam and said he plans to complete his term of office, which runs to June 30.
On Wednesday, health officials found traces of the legionella bacteria that causes the disease in the private washroom in Suen's office - making the site a likely source of his exposure.
Suen said he never used the shower in the washroom, but did use the basin to wash his hands after using the toilet. He could not remember if he had ever washed his face there.
The recently completed HK$5.5 billion government headquarters remains in use and the Centre for Health Protection says that for the time being it is not necessary to suspend the water supply. Some civil servants were not reassured, though.
They fear the plumbing at the complex may be contaminated.