A former official who approved former housing chief Leung Chin-man's post-retirement job with a New World Development unit was criticised by legislators yesterday for relying on guesswork.
David Chow Chor-kong, former assistant director of the Transport and Housing Bureau's housing branch, had admitted he failed to dig out facts about Mr Leung's role in controversial policymaking involving the developer.
He said that when he handled Mr Leung's application, he 'believed it was unnecessary to consider the dealings between Mr Leung and the parent company of his prospective employer'.
Mr Chow was speaking at the Legislative Council inquiry into the approval of Mr Leung's employment with New World China Land after he had been heavily criticised over the sale of the Hunghom Peninsula estate at a bargain price to a consortium involving the parent company, New World Development.
Mr Chow's former supervisor, Thomas Chan Chun-yuen, who is now permanent secretary for transport and housing, also admitted at the hearing that he had never asked his subordinates to further investigate the application.
The pair recommended that the Civil Service Bureau approve Mr Leung's application without any restrictions.
Mr Chow told the hearing that he had concluded that 'the possibility for [Mr Leung's] former positions to benefit directly or specifically his prospective employer was remote'.
