The panel will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, and a public hearing next Saturday to gauge the public's views on the proposals.

Leung needs to secure the backing of Legco's establishment subcommittee and finance committee by next month if his plan is to be in place when he takes office in July.

The current administration has proposed tabling his proposal to the establishment subcommittee on June 6 and to the finance committee on June 15.

The proposed changes were estimated to incur an extra HK$72 million a year in staff costs, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said in a paper submitted to Legco last week.

At least 57 posts would be created, including two for ministers to head the new bureaus, two for their undersecretaries, and various aides.

The administration has also suggested moving a resolution at a Legco meeting on June 20 to put in place the statutory framework required for the new government structure.

At the house committee meeting yesterday, Democratic Party vice-chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing said it would be illogical for the government to seek funding before Legco had passed a resolution on the revamp.

'[The government has proposed that] the funding request come before [the restructuring] is approved,' she said. 'What if the resolution cannot be passed [in Legco]?'

Committee chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee pledged to raise the matter with Chief Secretary Stephen Lam Sui-lung on Monday.

People Power lawmaker Wong Yuk-man had earlier vowed to take action against Leung's reshuffle plan when it faces scrutiny from lawmakers and did not rule out a filibuster. Legco secretary general Pauline Ng Man-wah said legislators could table amendments to a reshuffle bill provided they gave 10 days' notice.