Provisional legislators fear they might be pressed into rubber-stamping housing projects as the Government seeks to fast-track developments.
In order to meet Tung Chee-hwa's housing target of providing 85,000 flats a year, the administration proposed inviting tenders for reclamation and infrastructure work at the same time as seeking funds from the Finance Committee. It also proposed to provide funds for detailed design studies before completion of statutory procedures.
Unionist Chan Yuen-han feared the streamlined procedures might force legislators to agree to some developments even though doubts about the projects existed.
'If the Government has already taken concrete steps before seeking funds approval from us, the Finance Committee might be forced to agree to the projects even though we may have reservations,' Ms Chan said.
Deputy Secretary for Housing Andrew Wells said the new process would not commit the Government to spending on construction before getting fund approval.
But panel chairman Miriam Lau Kin-yee said the pressure might come from deadlines. 'I am not worried that we won't be able to say no to granting funds.
