THE establishment of a provisional legislature would contravene the Basic Law and enable China to meddle in the internal affairs of post-1997 Hong Kong, legislators from the liberal camp said.
Councillors used the debate on the Governor's policy address to hit out at a proposal by the Preliminary Working Committee (PWC) to set up such a legislature.
Instead of commenting on the relationship between the Government and the China-appointed body - an issue addressed by fellow legislators in the debate - the liberals said the setting up of the PWC was as unlawful as its proposal for a provisional legislature.
The PWC has said such a body is needed because the legislators elected in 1995 would be sacked in 1997 when China took control.
The criticism was joined by pro-Taiwan unionist, Pang Chun-hoi, who said the idea of a provisional legislature showed 'contempt for the Basic Law'.
Chairman of the Democratic Party Martin Lee Chu-ming described the PWC as a monster created by China to defy the provisions and spirit of the Joint Declaration and Basic Law.