The Antony Leung affair could trigger bitter disputes in future disciplinary action against government employees, civil service unionists have warned.
Although some staff unions have said it is inappropriate to comment on how Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has handled the scandal, civil servants have privately expressed strong dissatisfaction.
Disciplinary action that can be taken against civil servants ranges from verbal warnings to dismissal without a pension.
But Mr Tung has said the accountability system limits him to formal criticism or asking for the minister's resignation.
Mr Leung was eventually reprimanded but his offer to resign was rejected.
One senior civil servant said his colleagues were outraged by the apparent lenient action.
'Civil servants, of course, find the treatment a great problem. Indeed the whole community finds it a great problem,' he said.