ANGRY legislators yesterday criticised the Government for excluding public opinion from the draft review of environmental policy to be published in November.
The paper is the second review of the progress of the environmental protection programme laid down in a 1989 White Paper and forms the basis for future action.
Legislators in the environmental affairs panel, who received only a 17-page summary of the draft, were angered when the Government said the paper needed to be endorsed by the Executive Council before it was opened to public debate.
Independent legislator Christine Loh Kung-wai said Exco members were only part-time advisers to the Government and would have to take its word on technical topics.
''How on earth could Exco members comment on the paper if there is no consultation to give them a direction as to what the public opinions are?'' Ms Loh asked.
United Democrat member the Reverend Fung Chi-wood asked whether the Government had any intention of consulting the public, especially green pressure groups.
The Deputy Secretary for Environment, Anthony Cooper, said: ''Public consultation is one of our main aims, but we have to clear certain administrative hurdles before that begins.'' He said the review was neither a Green nor White Paper but a public education document aimed at stimulating concern and debate on environmental issues.