THE Government yesterday defended the present relationship between the Executive Council and the legislature as one heading in the right direction, even though many legislators disagreed. Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Michael Sze Cho-cheung said the relationship between the legislature and the executive over the past year was ''developing along a path that meets our objective''. He said the administration's guiding principle was to ensure a vigorous and efficient executive-led Government that was properly accountable to the Legislative Council. And the separation of Exco and Legco was meant to allow the two councils to develop their proper roles. On allegations there was a communication breakdown between the two councils, Mr Sze said that only in an ideal world would everyone see eye to eye, ''but we don't live in an ideal world''. Dismissing suggestions of a ministerial system, Mr Sze said such a system was not envisaged in the present constitutional arrangements or in the Basic Law. But Mr Sze promised to look into other proposals put forward by members, while emphasising the Government-Legislative Council committee, first suggested by Governor Chris Patten last October, was still on the cards. The motion, which called on the administration to review the communication and working relationship between the Executive and the Legislative Councils, received overwhelming support from legislators, including the three official members. Moving the motion, Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen said although Hongkong claimed to have an executive-led Government, the latter was probably the weakest in Hongkong's history in terms of its influence in the Legislative Council. ''Should Legco decide to be unco-operative, or should there be a complete disagreement over policy, there is a real danger of an impasse.'' On the other hand, the Legislative Council, with no responsibility to govern Hongkong and make difficult choices, could take a populist stance and condemn the Government for not having done enough. Executive Council decisions were also presented as a fait accompli, putting legislators in a difficult position. Hui Yin-fat questioned whether the Government had been too rash and reckless in separating the two councils before finding ways to bridge the gap. He said the Governor's question time and briefings between the top three officials and the Legislative Council were too superficial. These only served as a forum for the Government to re-state or justify its policies, and were in no way attempts to solicit legislators' views on major issues. ''What we are asking for is not a 'legislature-led' system but a reasonable degree of respect from the Government and Exco.'' Legislators offered several solutions to the problem. Liberal Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei said the way out was to appoint political figures to make policy decisions, who should in turn shoulder responsibility. Independents Jimmy McGregor and Elsie Tu supported the revival of Legco-Exco monthly meetings, but suggested they should be held in-camera. Liberal legislators Christine Loh Kung-wai and Anna Wu Hung-yuk urged greater transparency of the Executive Council. The United Democrats and Meeting Point advocated the appointment of directly elected members to the Executive Council.
