Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping has dismissed charges by some pro-democracy lawmakers that the chief executive was involved in his decision to declare Queen's Pier not to be an historic monument.

The charge came during angry exchanges at a special Legislative Council discussion on the issue.

Ho insisted the decision was his and his alone to make, being the secretary of the Antiquities Authority, a role that comes along with his home affairs position.

But he conceded he had provided progress reports to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and other senior officials.

Ho came under fire during Friday's meeting of Legco's home affairs panel for his decision not to declare the pier a monument despite a Grade I historic rating by the Antiquities Advisory Board.

Legislators also challenged Ho over his decision not to declare Queen's Pier a monument, which came only one day before Legco's public works subcommittee approved HK$50 million in funding to dismantle the pier May 23.

Democrat James To Kun-shun asked Ho if he had talked with Tsang or Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan before he announced his decision.

Ho admitted he had briefed many senior government officials, including Tsang and Hui, but said the decision was his.

"The chief executive did not give me any instructions about Queen's Pier. He did not express an opinion about it." Ho also denied regretting the decision.

"The decision was made according to the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance," Ho said. "The cultural value of Queen's Pier was not underestimated as it was given a Grade I historic rating."

However, he said, there was no automatic linkage between graded buildings and monuments.

He said under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, he had to consider only three factors, namely its historical, archaeological and paleontological significance.

Ho said the pier was only 44 years old when compared with some monuments that were more than 100 years old.

"The Legislative Council is a monument. Government House is a monument. But Queen's Pier is not up to that standard," he said.

The government won the first round of the battle to dismantle the pier May 23 when Legco's public works subcommittee approved the required funds. However, it still needs the endorsement of the Finance Committee.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong legislator Choy So-yuk, who was forced by her party to abstain from voting against the funds request May 23, said Friday she hoped more party members would be allowed to vote against the project at the next round.

She added it was disappointing Ho had not made a commitment to reassemble the pier at its original site.