The Legislative Council (LegCo) plans to vote Dec 10 on whether a select committee should be set up to investigate the post-service employment of former housing chief Leung Chin-man.

The select committee's terms of reference have also been extended to cover what jobs Leung has applied for since leaving the government.

These issues were decided in yesterday's meeting of the LegCo subcommittee preparing for the appointment of the select committee.

At the meeting, lawmakers passed the amendment on the proposed terms of reference moved by Abraham Shek Lai-him, Ip Kwok-him and James To Jun-sun.

"I just don't want to be restricted during the investigation, as we should look into (matters relating to) private organizations that Leung applied for but failed" to get, To said.

Ip also hoped the Select Committee could be free to probe everything with which Leung had been in touch when he served in the government.

Leung was the permanent secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) and Director of Housing from July 2002 until he left the government in January 2006 after serving as building director for almost three years.

The Subcommittee agreed to investigate whether any potential or actual conflict of interest, as well as related matters, had arisen from decisions on major housing and land policies made by Leung during his tenure.

The approval process of his post-service employment in New World China Land and other real estate organizations will be looked into with recommendations made afterwards.

Lee Wing-tat from the Democratic Party stressed the right of the LegCo to find out if Leung's position as the executive director of the private developer had embarrassed the government.

The proposal will be submitted to the House Committee on Friday - followed by the debate on Dec 10.

Shall the motion be carried, the Select Committee, which consists of 12 members to be nominated on Dec 12, will be granted the Powers and Privileges Ordinance to start investigating.

After retiring from the government for two years, Leung announced his new appointment in August at the New World China Land, which created an outcry by Hongkongers.

Almost immediately, Leung announced that he had terminated his contract with the developer shortly after Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-keun ordered Secretary for Civil Service Denise Yue to review her decision to approve Leung's new employment.

(HK Edition 11/18/2008 page1)