Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying refused last night to give in to pan-democrat calls for a public consultation on a proposed government restructure, saying it was not unusual to press ahead without one.
Leung's remarks came after his first official talks with more than a dozen pan-democratic lawmakers since the March 25 chief executive election.
Speaking after the closed-door meeting, pan-democrats said they were unhappy with what they said was Leung's evasion of the issue of how to proceed with universal suffrage in the next chief executive election in 2017.
Leung's administration has proposed that the Transport and Housing Bureau and the Development Bureau be restructured to create a housing, planning and lands bureau along with a transport and works bureau.
Other ideas include splitting the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau into an industry and commerce bureau alongside a technology and communications bureau, and creating a culture bureau.
This would raise the total number of bureaus to 14 from the current 12. Leung said the restructure was urgently needed to help solve 'deep-rooted problems' in society, such as housing needs.
In addition, he has suggested creating deputy chief secretary and deputy financial secretary posts, saying these moves would 'neither expand nor change the political appointment system'.