LEGISLATORS are divided on Acting Governor Sir David Ford's suggestion of appointing law-makers from major political parties to sit on the Executive Council by 1995. While some Legco members urged the Government to introduce the new policy as soon as possible, others dismissed the idea as impractical. Legislator Zachary Wong Wai-yin, of Meeting Point, said he saw no reason why the Government could not appoint legislators to the top decision-making body immediately. ''It is apparent that the present Executive Council can't reflect public opinion despite an elected legislature,'' he said. Directly-elected legislators could sit on Exco to make it more representative, he said. The allocation of seats to parties did not have to be in the same proportions as those on Legco. Mr Wong called on the Government to drop the policy of collective responsibility for Exco. Representative of the legal profession, Simon Ip Sik-on, also favoured the idea of appointing legislators to the Governor's cabinet. He said there was no need for the parties to take seats in the same proportion in Legco because there was no majority political party in the existing legislature. Exco should be largely made up of non-legislators, he said. But other legislators were not excited by the idea. Legislator Steven Poon Kwok-lim, of the Liberal Party, said putting legislators in Exco would bring party politics into the top decision-making body. He was worried that the present executive-led system would turn into one led by legislators. ''Policy-making power should remain in the hands of the Governor rather than legislators,'' he said. Independent legislator Samuel Wong Ping-wai dismissed the idea as unfeasible. He said legislators were unlikely to abide by the policy of collective responsibility and the rules on confidentiality. ''Exco would become ineffective if its members publicly opposed its decisions,'' he said.
