“Save the Star Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower”

Together, the pair of Star Ferry Piers in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui represents one of the great modern and organic architectural buildings in Hong Kong, structures that grew naturally in their cityscape environment. The expansive horizontal windows on the second floor of the waiting area frame the skyline on the opposite side of the harbour. Standing in front of this immersive tableau belies the impression that you have already arrived on the other side of the water. The Central Star Ferry Clock Tower in Edinburgh Place is also the last mechanical antique clock in Hong Kong that can be described as “Hong Kong’s version of Big Ben”. The Star Ferry Clock and its Westminster Chimes were manufactured by the same UK company that provided the mechanical signature to the famous London landmark.

However, the Central Star Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower are due for demolition in the next few months to make way for the Central reclamation. Open discussions about the Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower have been inadequate, as the structures have been considered too “young” to have significant heritage value. You have to ask, “Should age alone be the overriding assessment criteria?”

SEE Magazine, an urban environment concern group and information provider, is trying our best to explore the history, cultural origin and social significance of the Ferry Pier and its Clock Tower in our latest issue (#007). We hope our effort will help raise the public’s awareness to the outdated thinking behind the prevailing heritage assessment system that inevitably leads to doubtful or even regrettable decisions.

In this regard, we are publicizing the following statements based upon what our research and analysis of the whole issue have uncovered so far. Our volunteers are trying hard to translate and summarize our articles in SEE Magazine to share with you our experience and thoughts. If you are proficient in Chinese, we encourage you to buy and read our magazine as a primer towards facilitating “informed discussion” in our community and supporting our efforts in this area of cultural preservation.

If you agree with the following statements, please sign your name. If you have further suggestions and comments, please feel free to contact us at contact@project-see.net

1. We urge the Government and the Star Ferry Co. to stop plans to demolish the Central Star Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower in order to allow adequate time for more people to document and study the cultural significance for wider public discussion.

2. Our community lacks information to understand the aesthetic, social or scientific significance of the Star Ferry Pier and its Clock Tower. We hope the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) can put this architecture on their agenda for open meeting discussion.

3. Any easy way out to expedite urban planning will not create a city landscape that touches our heart or moves our emotions. We suggest the Planning Department to review the urban design of Central and incorporate the Star Ferry Pier and the Clock Tower into future development that can sustain this historical landmark in-situ.

Go to Sign and Support the above Statement