Grass-roots representatives say they are finding it hard to use the Commission on Poverty as a platform to help the poor.
Ho Hei-wah, director of the Society for Community Organisation, said the commission pushed ahead with its proposals for parental training and a savings scheme despite members' objections.
Lawmaker Frederick Fung Kin-kee, who is a commission member, said he was unclear about who raised ideas and how decisions were made.
There is also dissatisfaction about the way the commission positions itself - as a body to identify and fill gaps left by government bureaus rather than having a mandate to direct bureaus to change policy.
Mr Fung said: 'If the bureaus were doing their jobs well, we wouldn't be seeing so many alarming figures and there wouldn't have been a need for the establishment of the poverty commission.'
Both Mr Fung and Mr Ho complained about the lack of discussion and attempts to form consensus at commission meetings.