OFFICIALS could face a harder time forcing through reclamation schemes if a harbour protection bill is approved.

The measures allow the Town Planning Board to approve reclamation for essential infrastructure projects including roads and piers, but infill for property development can only be permitted by legislators.

The bill also covers the MTR and Cross-Harbour, Eastern and Western harbour tunnels, which were excluded from the earlier draft last year.

The bid to close loopholes that would have allowed the Government to use other laws to bypass the bill comes in response to public alarm at government plans to reclaim 636 hectares of waterfront on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

The new version will be lodged with the law draftsman today by independent legislator Christine Loh Kung-wai.

" It has been widened to catch all the other ordinances which the administration could use to legally get round it," said Ms Loh's assistant, Adam Mayes.

" The bill clearly defines the role of the board and the Legislative Council to control reclamation," he said.

A copy of the bill, which could have its first reading on March 13, will be sent to Legco President Andrew Wong Wang-fat.

The administration will face a strong challenge from the board on March 1 when it debates controversial plans to create a public dump in the Sulphur Channel between Western and Green Island.

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