Chief Executive John Lee said on Sunday he wants to fine-tune a system for officials attending public events as he acknowledged criticism of a banquet for a departing district officer on Thursday.

Hundreds of people joined the farewell gathering for Wong Tai Sin district officer Steve Wong, who is going to study in Beijing.

Former CE CY Leung earlier criticised the event, calling it an example of "over-the-top and wasteful behaviour by pro-establishment groups". Wong has since apologised for "causing concerns and perception issues".

Lee said it was the good intention of people from the community to organise the banquet for Wong to thank him for his work.

But he also said the incident gave a negative impression to the public, and hopes everyone can learn a lesson.

"I believe in future, we can use simpler and more direct ways to thank officials, such as writing letters and emails," Lee said after attending a consultation session on his Policy Address in Sha Tin.

"Sometimes, in person, a pat on the shoulder is also a very good way."

The CE stressed officials attending public events does not constitute conflict of interest, and the incident would not stop them from communicating with the public.

He also said many officials had chosen to attend the same event in the past, and that he hopes a new consensus can be built so organisers won't focus on the number of officials present in future, as long as someone is there.

"I want to make it a flexible system, so that internally within government, we can share our workload, there'll be good division of labour among us, and we'll be helping each other, sharing the work, so as to ensure that we can have the right participation in all these events," he said.

Lee added that he has high hopes for district officers as they will play an important role in community governance, after a recent revamp of district council laws that will make them chairs of District Councils next year.