Faced with loud public opposition to a project to fill in 23 hectaresacres) of harbour for a new traffic scheme, the government on Saturday abruptly suspended dredging and dumping work pending a court hearing.

But about 500 people took to the streets on Sunday to demand a permanent halt to the project, which critics say flouts Hong Kong's harbour protection law and an earlier court ruling.

About half of Victoria Harbour, flanked by the hills and skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, has already been lost to more than a century of reclamation as Hong Kong -- or "Fragrant Harbour" in Cantonese -- grew from an impoverished backwater into a global economic power.

Former waterfront landmarks such as Statue Square now stand about 200 metres (yards) inland, with a broad concrete belt of high-rise office towers and highways now lining Hong Kong island's north shore.

Critics have expressed fears that the new land, set for use as an underground traffic bypass and a promenade, would eventually be developed into more office buildings.

The dispute is just the latest setback for Hong Kong's government, hand-picked by Chinese leaders following the handover from British rule in 1997, which has found itself under increasing pressure in recent months.

Following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak and with the economy continuing to misfire, about 500,000 people marched against controversial security laws on July 1 in the biggest demonstration here since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

Activists said the protests, which forced the shelving of the security legislation, had given ordinary people confidence to speak out.

Public pressure has forced the government into two further concessions in just the past week, with officials backing down on a plan to cut voting hours in district council elections and relaxing pet restrictions in public flats.

"Hong Kong people are no longer desperate," said Winston Chu, chairman of the Society for the Protection of the Harbour, who launched legal proceedings against the project this week.

"They were being messed around by the government and they felt helpless. They were complaining bitterly to no avail, but since July 1 people realise they have a lot of power."

Chu's group claims cross-party support and an action group says it has received one million dollars (128,000 US) in donations to fight the court case.

"It's obvious from the community reaction, particularly the outpouring of donations to Winston Chu, that there's a lot of support for this campaign," said Andrew Thomson of green business group, the Business Environment Council.

"There's always been a groundswell of people who are willing to protest but the remarkable change has been the increase in support from the general public," he added.

"Previously there were quite a number of green groups who were vociferous about these issues but now there's been an upswing of support since July 1."

"Certainly July 1 is the big change," agreed Martin Baker of Greenpeace China.

"People came out in force and the government had no choice but to listen. That may have given them more confidence."

Meanwhile, there was little support for the reclamation project among residents passing by the reclamation site.

"I don't agree with it," said Kenneth Wong, 26, gesturing at a section of quayside where hundreds of three-foot (90-centimetre) diameter pipes lay ready for use.

"The harbour is our landmark, and I don't want it destroyed."

Chris Lichko, 33, an American telecommunications manager who has lived in Hong Kong for four years, also said he was not happy with the work.

"I don't like this idea -- I would like to preserve the harbour," Lichko said. "It's one of the defining characteristics of Hong Kong."

About 3,200 hectares of Victoria Harbour, which originally covered about 6,500 hectares, have been reclaimed, according to the harbour protection society. About four billion US dollars of reclamation projects are currently planned.

The High Court is due to hear the application for a temporary stay of the latest project on Friday.

TERRA.WIRE