Julia Leung 'wanted to quit since CY Leung became chief executive'

Departing finance deputy Julia Leung Fung-yee has revealed that she had been thinking about leaving the government since Leung Chun-ying became chief executive.

The undersecretary for financial services and the treasury, whose resignation on Wednesday cast further doubt over the cabinet's stability, yesterday confirmed that she had wanted to leave a year ago.

"I have been contemplating this personal plan … and maintaining communication with the minister and the government," Leung said, referring to financial services minister Professor Chan Ka-keung.

She said the change of government would have been the "natural time" for her to leave, "but I had a lot of remaining tasks back then".

Leung's resignation marked the fifth departure of a politically appointed official since Leung Chun-ying took office 16 months ago.

The undersecretary for five years dismissed alleged links between the government's flagging popularity and her departure.

"There is perhaps never a good time for departure. So my biggest concern is to ensure a smooth transition," she said.