Liberal Party chief James Tien Pei-chun warned yesterday he would block all government proposals that come before the Executive Council if he was sidelined from policy-making.
Mr Tien said consensus would be needed from all five members without portfolio in Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's cabinet before anything was approved.
Mr Tien's threat came after Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen on Monday announced a high-level committee to co-ordinate policy proposals before they are discussed by Exco.
Mr Tien said he was notified of the plan last week and was not worried.
'The final decision-making power rests with the full Exco, which we are a part of. Without our support the policy cannot be approved,' he said.
'If they ignore me, they are looking for trouble. I could oppose the policy for the sake of opposition because they hadn't asked me beforehand, even if I found the policy acceptable.'
The committee will be chaired by Mr Tsang or Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung and all 11 ministers will be members. It will hold its first meeting on Thursday next week.
