Legco To Get Govt Restructuring Plan Soon: Starry Lee

The administration intends to submit its government restructuring proposal to Legco for scrutiny around the middle of this month, the chairwoman of Legco's house committee, Starry Lee, said on Friday.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam earlier proposed setting up a new bureau to oversee culture, sports and tourism, splitting the Transport and Housing Bureau into two, and turning the Home Affairs Bureau into one that looks after youth and district affairs.

Speaking to fellow lawmakers at a house committee meeting, Lee said the director of the Chief Executive's Office, Eric Chan, had told her that he hoped lawmakers could set up a panel right away so they can scrutinise the plans as soon as the proposals are made available to them.

Lee said according to Chan, the administration will submit plans about the manpower structure of the new bureaus and related financial proposals later on.

She said the administration would like to see the proposals passed by the end of June, so CE-elect John Lee can form his new cabinet as soon as possible.

During the house committee meeting, lawmakers backed a proposal by Ma Fung-kwok to set up a panel to vet the restructuring plan.

Earlier, John Lee said he was inclined to back the reorganisation plan.