Mr Chu left Hong Kong yesterday to take up a temporary teaching post in London after an anonymous threat of violence was issued against him and his mother on Friday.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mike Rushworth, president of the automobile association, said the Central-Wan Chai bypass road was not essential.

The association proposed that the government should manage traffic flow by merging the three cross-harbour tunnel operators and reducing over-reliance on the Hunghom crossing.

'Our members feel that the needless reclamation of more of one of Hong Kong's most significant assets is against the short and long-term interests of the people of Hong Kong, especially as other alternatives to the Central-Wan Chai bypass have not been explored,' Mr Rushworth said.

'If the government carries on in this way, Victoria Harbour will become 'Victoria's Secret'.'

However, the Advisory Council on the Environment's chairman, Lam Kin-che, yesterday said the council believed that the present Central reclamation plans would have minimal negative impact.

The council met last night to discuss the project. Two years ago, the council approved the environmental impact assessment report into the reclamation project.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung yesterday said after the council meeting that building roads indefinitely was not the only way to solve traffic problems.

But she cautioned against the option of electronic road pricing to regulate traffic in Central, which she said would take a long time to study and implement.

Before his departure, Mr Chu issued parting shots against senior officials opposed to his campaign.

Speaking on Commercial Radio, Mr Chu warned the government that it was making an enemy of the public by insisting that the reclamation should go ahead as planned.

Mr Chu described his departure as an unfortunate, but wise, decision. He said he would continue to take part in the campaign in a private capacity.

'Victoria Harbour is not mine. It belongs to everyone in society. Senior government officials have the responsibility to protect it. But now they are on the opposite side of the general public,' he said.

Mr Chu said the society, which is now headed by Christine Loh Kung-wai, would seek new recruits.

'The society will recruit new members who will fight the battle as a team with greater strength and they will not be able to be attacked individually,' he said.

Mr Chu will return to Hong Kong on November 9 to celebrate 'Victoria Harbour Day', an event arranged by fellow environmental activists.

Meanwhile, tycoon Li Ka-shing yesterday sought to end speculation that he had an interest in blocking the reclamation. A report in Next magazine led to the rumours.

Mr Li said the report was 'stupid' and did not deserve any attention.

He made the remarks after meeting with Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen at the government headquarters.