The last days of the Star Ferry terminal
By the time this latest round of reclamation is over, Victoria Harbor will have lost half its original area. The folk that run this town apparently decided, despite the fact that 70% of Hong Kong is farmland and countryside, that more land had to be created, more open space had to be had. Now I subscribe to the “I’m sorry but your living room is in the way of progress” school of thought when it comes to city planning, highway-building and the like, but this landfill is neither useful nor necessary. It was inevitable though, given the true nature of the balance of power in Hong Kong. One of these days, and it won’t be long, we will be able to walk across the harbor.
What’s the big deal about this harbor anyway, you ask? The local tourism authority calls it one of the world’s most impressive natural harbors. I know it as the home of the most spectacular skyline in this neck o’ the woods,
the dividing line between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon/ the giant landmass that leads into China (click here for the Google map)
and of course the route plied by that noted symbol of Hong Kong, the sweet little Star Ferry.
The Star Ferry terminal, located right smack in the center of town, starting point of the most convenient, most scenic, and cheapest way across the harbor, is one of the casualties of the reclamation project. The new terminal is located over a kilometer further into (what used to be) the water, right smack in the middle of nowhere. At midnight two Saturdays ago the last ferry sailed from the Central terminal. I took two trips down there to take pictures, first with Tehlin, Dawn and Sammy two Thursdays ago, and then with Grumpus that Saturday. Here’s the rest of the story in pictures:
On Thursday, we got there just as the clock was striking 12. It was an eerie soundtrack to the solemn procession of people milling around, cameras out, paying last respects
There were signs of protest
but this being Hong Kong, it was all very mild and orderly.
The gang and I took the ferry across the harbor, and Sammy played cute baby to the hilt.
That Saturday, Grumpus and I returned to larger crowds and more disturbed people
We took the obligatory photos with the clocktower in the background
Went closer in
and expressed our disapproval at the whole sordid affair.
We left on a sad little note…
and spent the rest of the day shopping.