Linn joined the civil service in January 1989 as an Administrative Officer. Having served in multiple departments and bureaux, she was promoted to Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury in 2008.[5]
In a 2009 Legislative Council committee meeting, Linn criticised pro-democracy lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung for using unparliamentary language, which he declined to classify as, denouncing then Chief Executive Donald Tsang over inadequate measures on elderly welfare. Raising a point of order, Linn said, as a mother herself, the best test to define foul language "would be whether a parent would be prepared to teach his/her children to use the expression in daily conversations or writings".[6] Her comments won appreciations from the officials, and was later promoted to Private Secretary to the Chief Executive in 2010.[5] She was then appointed Director of Lands in 2012, a position which she held for five years.
In July 2017, she succeeded Michael Wong, who was appointed Secretary for Development, as Permanent Secretary for Development.[5] Four years later, she again succeeded Wong to become the Secretary for Development.[7] During her tenure, the construction of 12,000 public housing flats on century-old Fanling Golf Course stirred controversies in the city. Despite different parties, including Hong Kong Golf Club, tournament organisers and even pro-government figures spoke out strongly against the plan, Linn said the government remained determined and vowed to deliver on the housing supply goal despite rezoning delay.[8]
In September 2023, after illegal unauthorized structures were discovered at luxury apartments, Linn said "nobody" was at fault.[9]
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