A solicitor labelled by critics as an "ignorant outsider" has been appointed to chair a study on free kindergarten education.
Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi will head the Committee on Free Kindergarten Education and work with 19 members to finish a study in two years.
The panel will look into ways to improve the operations of kindergartens, possible modes of government subvention, teachers' pay, teacher-pupil ratios, and issues related to free kindergarten education.
Dr Cheng, who has since 2009 chaired the Education Commission, is a vocal opponent of the sector's calls for a pay scale to improve kindergarten teachers' salaries.
Ip Kin-yuen, a legislator representing the education sector, doubted the government's sincerity in giving free kindergarten education.
"We see that the committee is headed by an outsider who is ignorant about preschool education," said Ip, adding that two years was too long for the committee to take.
"The issue has long been discussed and there has been a general consensus. I do not see why the committee needs two years to study it," said Ip.