While all the lawmakers agreed that the harbor must be preserved, the consideration of a specific harbor authority, proposed in a nonbinding motion Thursday, was opposed by mostly functional constituency lawmakers.

The motion, moved by independent lawmaker and Action Group on the Protection of the Harbour convenor Kwok Ka-ki, comes at a time when the government's consecutive unveiling of new waterfront proposals on both sides of the harbor have concerned environmentalists eager to prevent further reclamation.

Retired High Court judge Simon Li Fook-sean warned last month "that in due course, one will be able to walk from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon."

Kwok called on the government Thursday to set up a statutory body that could make legally enforceable decisions on waterfront developments. The authority was planned to comprise a mix of elected and government-appointed members including academics, business leaders and green groups - but would still be subject to government oversight.

Kwok said he was inspired by the body that has been attributed with the success of Sydney's Darling Harbour, as well as the failings of Hong Kong's advisory Harbourfront Enhancement Committee, established two years ago.

Kwok said a harbor authority would help generate revenue for the government as well as preserve the harbor.

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is responsible for Sydney's most historically and culturally significant waterfront locations.

It is also one of the biggest landholders in Sydney, owning just over 400 hectares. Its A$1.1 billion (HK$6.45 billion) portfolio of commercial and noncommercial assets, that include the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and Sydney Entertainment Centre, generated revenue of A$122 million for the year ending June 30, 2004.

Opposition was led Thursday by Tommy Cheung Yu-yan of the pro- business Liberal Party, who introduced an amendment effectively canceling out Kwok's key proposals.

Instead of a harbor authority, Cheung submitted there should be "extensive consultation, so that the government can adequately respond to the aspirations of the public when planning developments."

Representing the architectural, surveying and planning sector, lawmaker Patrick Lau Sau-shing said he supported all of Kwok's principles, but believed the government was already adhering to them and respecting the law as laid down by both the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance and the Court of Final Appeal. He voted against the motion.

Cheung Hok-ming of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said the city's reputation as the "Pearl of the Orient" rested on the harbor, but said his party was unable to support the "controversial" proposal of a harbor authority.

But two DAB members - Chan Yuen-han and Choy So-yuk, chairwoman of the environmental affairs panel - chose to back Kwok.

Raymond Ho Chung-tai, of The Alliance, said much work still needed to be done to improve the congestion problem in Central.

"It will not be in the best interests of Hong Kong people to hold up all future developments over the harborfront," he said.

Responding to Kwok's motion, Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung said in addition to meeting public demands for open space, Hong Kong must also maintain its role as an international finance center by keeping up with demand for commercial development.

He said a harbor authority "is not applicable everywhere" and that it was more important to complete the various harborfront developments at the moment.

With about two-thirds of legislators present, the largely pro-democratic geographical constituencies voted 10-2 in favor of Kwok's motion, but the functional constituencies voted it down, 5-13.

The Liberal Party's amendment was also rejected, but by only a narrow margin. The functional constituencies voted in favor 13-5, but the geographical constituencies voted against 8-9.

Kwok shot back in his closing statement: "I think the happiest party today is the government. You will succeed, but you will have to answer to the public later."

Tommy Cheung earlier said he felt there was no need for a harbor authority as introducing "too many authorities" would only "slow down the process."

Cheung's criticisms angered Kwok, who Tuesday accused the party of giving in to the government's behind-the- scenes lobbying and taking out the two most important parts of the motion.