MR Yeung said he had faith in the ability of Hong Kong's ''hard-headed'' business community to weather any storm caused by the political reforms of Governor Chris Patten.

After a shock resignation, Mr Yeung, 52, is leaving the civil service to become executive director of Sino Land, the property giant run by Singaporean tycoon Robert Ng Chee Siong. .

He said he privately supported the push for more reform but that the pace must be decided by ''mutual consideration''.