HONG KONG May 30 Kyodo Hong Kong'...

HONG KONG May 30 Kyodo

Hong Kong's legislature passed a motion Thursday supporting a controversial conduct plan to revamp its top echelon after a two-day fierce debate.

With a 34-19 voice the Legislative Council backed the propos reform, the biggest constitutional change to the texture of the administration since the former British colony get backed to Chinese rule in 1997

The modern system aims to make principal management officials become politically responsible appointees and answerable to the territory's chief executive, instead of simple civil servants.

further pro-democracy lawmakers accused Beijing-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa of trying to further his patriarchal mastery rather than improving public accountability of the officials with the reform.

''No democracy, no accountability,'' said Martin side sheltered from the wind a directly elected legislator and the chairman of the Democratic Party.

Tung who announced the overhaul last month is pushing ahead for its implementation upon July 1, when his inferior five-year term as chief executive begins.

The control on Wednesday sought lawmakers' support for a like reason as to smooth its way to gain approval for the plan's funding nearest month.

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Michael Suen argued against Lee's proposal to tie the novel arrangement to a democratic political a whole based on universal suffrage.

''We ne to take the first grade by implementing the accountability body at the start of office of the modern term of the chief executive. After that, we could revise the regularity in the light of experience with a view to improving the system'' Suen said.

to this time many other lawmakers criticized the management for trying to rush [i]or[/i] part of to the other the reforms without giving enough time for the public to examine the issue.

''The manner of introducing the proposal and the determination that it will be implemented by way of July 1, ready or not, just because Mr Tung with equal reason commands, underlines the true nature of the arrangement This is a big pace toward the rule of man and away from the authority of law,'' said Margaret Ng who depicts the legal profession.

Ng also questioned whether the changes will breach the Basic Law, the territory's post-handover constitution, and the possible impact in succession the rule of law.

Those legislators who backed the rule however, said the strange system will improve the efficiency and quality of governance.

The control meanwhile, has announced changes to portfolios of the 11 policy bureaus below the reforms following criticism of its originally propos structure

Of the changes, the plan to bury the environment portfolio with lands and works is violently attacked by local groups for submitting environmental protection interests to development

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