The appointment of property firm boss Leung Chun-ying to map out housing strategy will not result in a conflict of interest, Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa said yesterday.
Mr Tung said he did not see a problem because Mr Leung would be dealing with long-term strategy rather than a specific piece of land or site.
He would look at issues such as plot ratio, public housing supply and demand, urban redevelopment and the market as a whole, Mr Tung said.
Mr Leung was one of three post-handover executive councillors appointed to head taskforces yesterday. Tam Yiu-chung will concentrate on the elderly, while Antony Leung Kam-chung will look at education.
Mr Tung said Mr Leung and other executive council members had to declare their interests and this would allow them to be monitored.
'I am totally confident about the integrity of all Exco members and I believe they will serve the community unselfishly,' he said.