Now, however, it appears that decision was wrong. He simply should have let Mr Leung go.

That would have been the only sensible decision. As the government reluctantly confirmed last night, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong declared his own recent car purchase at the Executive Council meeting in the Budget on March 5. Mr Leung, the man ultimately responsible for the Budget, remained silent throughout the same meeting. As moving as his explanations for his repeated reticence - centred on his high-profile marriage and child's birth - may be, they stretch the imagination beyond credible bounds. Before these reports, it was clear that Mr Leung was sailing close to the wind but was still within sight of the safe shore of explanations such as naivete and oversight. The latest revelation, however, put him in a much more treacherous position. The issue now is dishonesty. It is now hard to see how his public standing can recover. This, naturally, casts Mr Tung's entire accountability system in a new light. If it was only oversight, Mr Tung's actions may have had some justification.

Talented, suitable replacements are difficult for the Hong Kong government to attract in current climate. Mr Leung has only just made the transition to public life after a long career in the private sector. This was only his second Budget, delivered in the toughest of times, and a difficult selling job lies ahead.

Once a senior official's integrity is under clear question, however, it is another matter. Good governance becomes an issue. For the accountability system to work, clear standards must be firmly enforced.

Unfortunately, Mr Tung's move has allowed the matter to grow far more complex than it should be, fuelling an increasingly messy political debate. Mr Leung was this week placed in the invidious position of facing a Legislative Council grilling over a matter for which he had already offered to resign. Reassurance was vital if the matter was to be firmly laid to rest yet from the earliest stages of Monday's session it was clear Mr Leung's performance was raising more questions than answers. Mr Leung looked deeply uncomfortable - with himself and the situation.

In fact, it should have been Mr Tung in the hot seat, explaining why he decided to keep Mr Leung on despite the March 5 affair.

It is now even more important to deal with this scandal quickly so the business of government can find its equilibrium. Only firm leadership from Mr Tung can do it. He must accept Mr Leung's resignation. The search must start for a new financial secretary.

Glossary

reticence (n) not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

sail close to the wind (idiom) come close to breaking a rule or a law Example He is a prolific author, who sails about as close to the wind as he can without being labelled a dissident. (SCMP, March 4, 2002)

treacherous (adj) guilty of betrayal or deception

cast in a new light (phrase) to put something in a different perspective, usually after new information becomes available

invidious (adj) likely to cause dissatisfaction and resentment

grilling (n) merciless questioning

in the hot seat (idiom) a situation where one is forced to deal with a difficult problem

Discussion points

- What does the editorial suggest the government do to settle Mr Leung's car purchase scandal? Why does it say that the onus is now on the Chief Executive? Should it be?

- What is integrity? Why is honesty important? Do you think it is a more important quality for a public servant than an ordinary citizen?