Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier, often referred as the "Star Ferry" Pier, is a pier in Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong which is under demolition owing to planned land reclamation projects. It was taken out of service on November 11, 2006. Its function is now replaced by piers 7 and 8 of Central Ferry Piers approximately 300 metres away from the former site (as the crow flies), further into Victoria Harbour.

The pier incorporates a turret clock in the clock tower, whose chimes marked every quarter-hour since its inauguration in 1957. The mechanism was manufactured by Edward John Dent, the same British company that provided the mechanical signature to the Big Ben of London.

3D Laser Scanning Technology in digital recording of structures was applied to capture the 3D images of the Pier before the demolition.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Controversy 2.1 State of the clock 2.2 Public sentiment 2.3 Public protests 3 Demonstration timeline 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

The pier was built in 1957 in a modern functionist style, located near the City Hall and General Post Office. It was connected by various routes of NWFB and Citybus, Public light buses connecting many destinations on Hong Kong Island.

Being a principal gateway to Hong Kong Island from Kowloon Peninsula, thousands of residents passed through this pier every day from 1957 until the inauguration of the Cross Harbour Tunnel in 1972. From 1972 to 2006, it was still used by many as the shortest route from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central District. The trip is featured in travel books and websites (See, for example, this site).

The plan to relocate the Central Star Ferry Pier dates back to July 1999, when proposed amendments to the draft Central District (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan covering the Central Reclamation III area were published. The proposal was to demolish both the third generation Star Ferry Pier and Queen's Pier, to make way for a six-lane road and a low-rise shopping centre, requiring 16 hectares of reclaimed land directly in front of the fourth generation pier. The Government said that the historial significance of the third generation pier would be recognised, and promised that the landmark would be recreated on the new waterfront.

By relocating the new piers 300m away, it is estimated that the Star Ferry could lose perhaps 13 percent or more of passengers due to its inconvenient location^[2].

The South China Morning Post (Dec 17, 2006) reports that there were some 150,000 nostalgic visitors to the Pier and harbour crossing on the night of November 11, 2006. That night, Star Ferry hosted a historic "last ride" before the pier was closed-down, with the last four ferries leaving this pier on the stroke of midnight.

[edit] Controversy

[edit] State of the clock

In a technical feasibility study to see whether the clock mechanism could be relocated to the new site, an expert had advised against relocation as there was "no guarantee the clock and chimes would continue to work after relocation, due to their age and obsolete components^[3]".

Neil Brennon Wright of Thwaites & Reed, oldest clockmakers in the world, was flown in from England on December 18, 2006, to examine the clock. When asked about the "technical difficulties in moving and maintaining obsolete parts," Brennon Wright replied: "Well, that's not my assessment. We have restored far worse than that, it should pose no problems."^[4] However, he added that restoration would take several months.

It was planned to put part of the clock (five bells) on display in the new pier after demolition of the third generation pier, although the final decision has not been made[1].

[edit] Public sentiment

It has been revealed that the consultancy report from the Antiquities and Monuments Office had anticipated backlash and objections from the public if demolition were to be carried out[2]. There have been local community efforts trying to save the third generation pier, to widespread media coverage. In the weeks running up to the cessation of service from the Pier, thousands of emotional Hong Kong residents arrived to post banners, and other messages in support of retention.

Architects and conservationists state that the old piers have some architectural significance and cultural value to Hong Kong: architecturally the pier is one of the last remaining examples of a Streamline Moderne public building in Hong Kong (along with the to-be-demolished Central Market and Wan Chai Market); culturally the pier is widely recognised as a part of local collective memory. The Hong Kong Institute of Architects vice-president Mr. Vincent Ng Wing-shun, for example, warned that the government was destroying Hong Kong's heritage^[5]. Public opinion has resulted in alternatives put forth as to preserving the clock tower. Proposals have included moving the proposed six-lane road, or relocating the famous clock tower to the front of the new pier as a memorial. However the decision ultimately lies with the Government as the piers are Government property.

[edit] Public protests

Further spurred by the start of demolition on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 12, 2006, protesters, including legislator Leung Kwok-hung, started gathering spontaneously after workers removed the bell and the clockface from the tower, leaving a big hole. Activists rushed into and occupied part of the demolition site, chanting slogans from the roof of an excavator and demanded to meet Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung.

Demonstrations initially gathered spontaneously, but the spread of the news has prompted many more to gather. For example, Civic Party legislators, and a councillor from the usually pro-government Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, showed up to lend support.

After the demolition of the pier, the government stated that it will look at the memories of the citizens and not the historic value of the building/structure before demolishing it.

The demolition has drawn widespread condemnation, from the public, legislators, and conservationists, who claim the government action is contrary to the wishes of the public^[6]. Legco members have tabled motions to immediately halt the demolition, pending further consultation. The Government denied a last-minute reprieve, reiterating that there has been "adequate consultation", and forged ahead with demolition.

Conservationists have vowed to take the fight to Queen's Pier, and a number of other historical sites which may be threatened with a similar fate^[7]. At the end of 2006, in a testament to how the protests have struck a chord with the public, the Ferry protestors were voted "Person of the Year" by RTHK Radio 3^[8], beating anti-smoking campaigner Anthony Hedley, democrat challenger to the position of Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Alan Leong Kah-kit, the new Director General of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, or the "re-invented" Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

[edit] Demonstration timeline

• On 12 December 2006 it was occupied by demonstrators determined to stop its demolition^[9]
• On 13 December 2006, demolition resumed after all demonstrators were forcibly removed from the site by police, despite protestors remaining outside^[10]
• On 14 December 2006, 200 people attended candlelight vigil to mark the pier's 49th anniversary; activists again broke through a police cordon to retake the building^[11], 13 protesters were detained in the early hours of the morning
• On 15 December 2006, Government vows to get tough against protesters^[12], and accelerates demolition by carrying on work overnight; the clock tower is lifted off-site in one piece and taken off-site. A group of 20 students start a 49 hour sit-in hunger strike at midnight^[13]
• On 17 December 2006, 200 people marched on the Government Headquarters demanding to see the Chief Executive; violent scuffles broke out^[14]; Conservationists vow to take the fight to Queen's Pier.
• On 18 December 2006, incensed at a volte-face by the demolition company who recanted on selling the remains to conservationists, and by suggestion that the clock tower may be used as landfill, legislators demanded to know the whereabouts of the remains.
• On 19 December 2006, newspapers published interviews of witnesses who claim to have seen the old clock tower being broken up at the building waste landfill in Tuen Mun.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Our Star Ferry (in Chinese)