queen pier queen pier named queen_victoria public pier city hall central hong_kong generations served public pier day day use major ceremonial arrival departure point pier witnessed official arrival hong_kong hong_kong governors elizabeth_ii landed prince princess wales second final pier structure built newly reclaimed waterfront designed modern style opened wife governor june april pier closed government enable land soon adjacent pier closed fierce opposition carried campaign preserve landmark police officers evicted protesters site august activists filed judicial review high_court hearing began august august court dismissed request finally queen pier completely demolished february base piles removed march government attempts create appearance public support pier new waterfront criticised history wooden pier site known queen statue wharf replaced ceremonial landing area british royal family visiting hong_kong successive governors assert authority arrival governor land november preceding governor boarded victoria pier end term october pier pier originally named statue pier renamed queen pier honour queen_victoria july sheltered pier concrete steel round pillars arches built waterfront street site present cost intended opened time arrival edward prince wales construction delays postponed completion october demolished january pier post war old pier demolished work commenced february new pier new waterfront designed modern style structure described shaped plan open sided superstructure consisted reinforced concrete base pillars modelled previous piers area flat roof concrete topped sets stairs allowed boat passengers board located north east west pier considered integral ceremonial cluster including city hall edinburgh place formed time entrance formed axis pier lend sense occasion visiting dignitaries secondary design goal public access limited open space central contrast city pier opened wife governor june function pier primary role ceremonial traditional landing place successive governors arrive central board official governor yacht dock queen pier 1960s governors inspect guard honour followed swearing city hall queen landed visit arriving plane airport prince princess wales landed november pier secondary role public pier pleasure craft allowed dock tour boats offering view harbour pier passenger boarding finishing line annual cross harbour swimming race ceremonies declined pier secondary purpose main people met area april pier closed order facilitate land central future outset fate pier linked central project unveiled explicitly spelled scale slightly cut following significant legal battles government position following controversy demolition star ferry pier early activists declared queen pier battle ground conservation policy government hong_kong criticism received handling star ferry pier caused secretary propose piece piece relocation pier new location reclaimed waterfront session march government later unveiled design options relocation intended closure pier april end january government declared postpone demolition queen pier consensus reached course action held members opposed pier originally maintained pier remain untouched reported meeting government persuaded government pier dismantled location completion change heart heavily criticised founder clarified opposition fact changed chief executive said saving past hurt hong_kong called activists balanced view economic growth conservation soon election chief executive march government pressed ahead plans entire pier piece piece enabling ahead government said preservation apparently viable paper risk damage pier furthermore argued important underground facilities airport railway extended overrun tunnel affected saying natural track required setting aside technical difficulties huge risk involved works construction extended overrun tunnel cost million years complete appearing public forum pier july secretary development repeated government insistence keeping pier option said people false hope performance public debates praised secretary development conflict interest head criticised said governmental authority suggested keeping pier storing end july issued paper lands works panel erected end july target completing preservation works november suggested pier pitched roof halves concrete columns cut roof deck level pieces labeled lifted crane barge transported government explosives depot stored guard paper suggested location place december alignment proposed road involved district councils government polled fourteen voted support relocating pier new water july activists cried foul councils revealed preservation pier existing location forth options vice councils voted support objected decision informed possible options table chief town said omitted proposal efficient option create unnecessary construction waste revealed august government motions supporting relocation pier new waterfront condemned government order create public opinion urban design alliance doubted consultation saying government engineered results said problematic framework councils led work closely government said copy paste queen pier motions passed councils support government decisions rubber stamp clear sign councils lacked independence position original designer pier backed preservation saying loss adjacent open space future generations come regret denounced government insistence pier feasible option disregard pier grade status architects concluded technical difficulties government reasons current design convincing environmental groups angered government costs technical difficulties keeping pier original site proposed metre wide road planned 1980s obsolete waterfront inaccessible public chairman drew attention fact spending infrastructure past years billion contrasted poorly million spent acquiring heritage sites accused government misleading public development plans restoration pier criticised failing grasp economical cultural social importance heritage preservation campaign public media september legislator took swim bearing plaque saying goodbye queen protest central particularly loss queen pier soon unsuccessful attempt save star ferry pier early campaign preserve pier launched ahead closure members public arrived tie blue indicate desire preserve harbour april protesters rallied pier launching farewell ditch attempt urge government reconsider petition signatures arts community collected occupation pier started activists designated closure date campaign boosted appearance early morning april sign petition appeal pre police hurt protesters activists like involved star ferry pier protest took turns maintain round clock presence spent nights week site despite working time job block demolition non violently way july students group called started hunger strike pier hunger said government wasn chosen use humble limited voices government responded communications offensive announcing secretary development appear city forum public forum july pier july government ordered end unlawful occupation government land midnight activists vowed order held pier attended government risk violent confrontation immediately deadline operation lasted hours daylight hours august police officers cleared away protesters site amid complained observers denied access area application million fund relocating pier scheduled debate sub committee day hold public hearing decide historical grading pier government stressed timing coincidence refused vote pending outcome vote hour long heated debate government forced withdraw motion lack support usually pro government called vote postponed equally government government ministers declared plans list pier declared monument insisted direct relationship grading demolish relocate pier debate director said site pronounced class monument remained legally binding prohibition demolition chairman said failing muster support implement policies government like crab weak legs government claimed handling issue line chief executive recent election campaign regain moral high ground heritage preservation following mistakes star ferry saga legislative councillor said sincerity government preserve historic venues public works approved government submitted request funds relocate queen pier vote voted appropriation revealed lobbied party allow cast opposing vote said regretted funding approval advisory board grading vote held public hearing board members voted grade listing pier majority members voted grade listing voted grade listing status binding government hearing activist local action declared decision victory people warned government treat voice people lightly legal challenge officials arrived july notices ordering end unlawful occupation government land activists filed judicial review claiming decision secretary declare structure monument illegal high_court set date case heard august judge said case future queen pier heard great public interest outcome justified week respite site august high_court dismissed request judicial review giving ahead government demolish judge ruled applicants failed establish government acted controversy majority members work government departments backed preservation pier apparent turn position paper submitted government backing relocation waterfront location based sparsely attended meeting submitted revised paper presenting majority members supported conclusion prior completion survey vice president institute questioned institute allies government popular culture pier featured following programmes videos date vampire life simple days music video goodbye bell song movie set hong_kong year television miniseries miniseries starring
Queen's Pier