“What problems have arisen in the internal coordination of the Department of Justice?” he said. “How would adding posts such as a deputy secretary for justice help to resolve such problems?”

Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, business sector lawmaker and executive councillor, said the division of work among the new deputies and their bosses remained vague.

“Would these ministers end up becoming commanders without soldiers under them?” he asked. “Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying once proposed that a deputy chief secretary should be appointed to supervise policy areas such as education. Would the new administration consider this idea?”

But Daniel Cheng Chung-wai, secretary general for the Chief Executive-elect’s Office, argued the creation of the new posts could not be delayed.

Cheng noted the secretary for justice supervised six to seven arms within the justice department, which involved about 90 directorate posts, adding the justice minister wanted to bolster promotional efforts both in mainland China and overseas.

“For the three new deputy posts, a clear division of labour will be drawn up,” he said. “They will share the work of the ministers and strengthen teamwork in the next administration.”

Cheng explained the deputy financial secretary was expected to oversee the housing and development ministers in boosting the city’s supply of flats and homes.

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Michael Luk Chung-hung questioned whether the Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (Pico), which is also responsible for policy research and is overseeing the proposed revamp, would continue to exist in Lee’s administration.

Office head Doris Ho Pui-ling assured the lawmakers Pico would continue to function after July 1, saying it directly reported to the chief executive and the posts and budget continued to exist.

Sources previously told the Post that Pico could be turned into a policy unit under Lee’s office

Chan Yung, a lawmaker from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), asked whether public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong should be moved from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to the proposed Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

Ho replied that leaving RTHK under the commerce bureau was appropriate, saying: “The commerce bureau is expected to spend more time on the city’s communication and broadcast sector after passing the tourism policies for the new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to supervise,” she added.

DAB lawmaker Nixie Lam Lam questioned why the government’s policies tailored for women were to be transferred from the Labour and Welfare Bureau to the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau.

Ho also said change was needed as the policies had evolved from predominantly labour and welfare concerns to ones more related to home affairs and empowerment.

The Legco subcommittee, chaired by veteran legislator Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, finished scrutinising the overhaul proposal on Monday, paving the way for the Finance Committee, its Establishment Subcommittee and the full council to vote on the relevant legislative amendments and funding proposals by mid-June.

Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that Legco’s Establishment Subcommittee will hold a special meeting on Friday morning to approve the plan, so that the Finance Committee can also scrutinise and endorse it on June 10.

Doris Ho said the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs planned to table the resolution on June 15. If approved, the plan would be gazetted in late June, and take effect on July 1, when Lee and his administration were slated to be sworn in.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive-elect John Lee continued to meet lawmakers and politicians on Monday.

Lee met about 20 members of the Liberal Party and a group of independent legislators, including medical sector representative David Lam Tzit-yuen, accountant Nelson Lam Chi-yuen, lawyer Doreen Kong Yuk-foon and businessman Johnny Ng Kit-chong.

David Lam said during the meeting that he hoped Lee’s administration would offer more support for patients struggling with rare diseases, while Yang urged Lee to negotiate with mainland authorities on resuming quarantine-free travel.

In their morning meeting with Lee, new Liberal Party chairman Peter Shiu Ka-fai said the border reopening should be Lee’s top priority, as it would help businesses that relied on access to the mainland and families with members living on both sides.

The party’s leader Tommy Cheung Yu-yan also urged Lee’s administration to look into the registration of teachers, and consider ways to boost Hong Kong educators’ understanding of the nation’s development.