edinburgh place ferry pier ferry pier chinese referred star ferry pier pier central hong_kong serving star ferry pier clock tower prominent waterfront landmark built height generation star ferry pier central located near city hall pier central hong_kong riots years later focus confrontation government wanted demolish pier allow ferry service pier suspended november moved piers central piers demolition commenced december completed early history entire waterfront generation pier situated created late 1950s following major land shoreline shifted position time level pier built height near city hall complex planned time star ferry pier designed local chinese architect born worked assistant architect designed façade pier chief architect added pier balanced practical turret clock installed pier marked quarter hour pier inauguration clock gift turn received prince belgium mechanism manufactured british company provided mechanical signature big ben london major bus terminus situated close thousands residents passed principal gateway daily inauguration travel harbour reduced flow passengers ferry shortest route daily average passenger trips harbour island routes public light buses connected destinations relocation plan relocate piers dates july proposed amendments draft extension outline plan covering central iii area published generation star ferry pier queen pier demolished hectares land directly fourth generation pier reclaimed way lane road low rise shopping centre cost estimated billion government said historical significance generation pier recognised promised recreate landmark new waterfront impact assessment recommended relocation star ferry pier approved demolition laser scanning technology digital recording structures applied capture dimensional images pier demolition following pier november demolition work started amidst protests demolition originally scheduled early demolition brought forward months december government ignored motion september urging retain pier clock tower demolition crew took control site december demolition commenced december workers took clock mechanism clock face leaving hole proceeded lift clock tower piece protesters dispersed remainder pier completely dismantled away publicity controversy scale phase central cut hectares fate piers sealed pier centre bitter struggle government opposed destruction harbour loss historical buildings prepared environmental impact assessment report central noted pier significant role hong_kong transport history government warned public backlash expected implications known pier especially clock tower visually important landmark hong_kong eye catching icon beautiful particularly tourists locals crossing ferry pier harbour possibly perform symbolic function pier removal star ferry pier piers leading destruction likely raise public objection dismay government maintained pier tower old classified historical people necessarily concerned building extent wrong activists mainly fighting preservation public place methods urban planning policies government perceived favour business interests public interest struggle preserve star ferry later queen pier occasion raise questions hong_kong history question democracy government strong public sentiment year old landmark collective memory hong_kong residents retrospective admission lacked legitimacy government spokesman conceded failed gain moral high ground loss convenience ferry passengers face trek reach new pier relocating new piers away estimated star ferry lose percent passengers harbour proposed relocation bus terminus acts ferry forecast reduce passenger numbers fifth loss totalling passengers translate revenue loss million star ferry architectural importance architects argued pier significant hong_kong remaining examples public building demolition culturally pier widely recognised local collective memory warned destruction hong_kong heritage saying mistake public opinion resulted alternatives forward preserve clock tower including moving proposed lane road relocating clock tower new pier memorial state clock reason cited government relocation turret clock tower expert feasibility study advised guarantee clock continue work relocation age obsolete components world longest operating firm arrived england december examine clock said firm restored far worse government promised rebuild clock complete original clock faces mechanism nearby location public sentiment public outcry anticipated report reality imminent threat demolition local community rallied save pier widespread media coverage weeks running cessation service pier thousands hong_kong residents arrived post banners messages support retention nostalgic visitors pier harbour crossing night november mark special occasion star ferry hosted ride pier closed ferries leaving pier stroke midnight eighteen willingly paid times normal fare ride proceeds designated charity protest movement november democratic_party harbour clear air earth care jointly met urge public fight preservation pier signatures collected day petition submitted chief executive senior officials addition group protesters began peaceful sit day veteran monk hunger strike star ferry fare increases triggered riots came lend support spurred start demolition afternoon december protesters started gathering spontaneously workers removed bell clock face tower leaving big hole activists including long hair rushed occupied demolition site chanting roof demanded meet secretary addition public legislators councillor pro government showed lend support demolition drew widespread condemnation public legislators claimed government action contrary wishes public members motions immediately halt demolition pending consultation government denied minute adequate consultation forged ahead demolition claimed objection known government proposed construct temporary road government consulted public demolition pier adjacent queen pier demolition pier government said consider memories citizens historic value building structure vowed fight queen pier number historical sites threatened similar fate end testament protests struck chord public ferry protesters voted person year group young cultural media activists formed core movement later influence social movements hong_kong mainland militant post 80s generation critical government business sided development approach hong_kong subordinate status china perceived lack democracy territory involved fight real political reform hong_kong link demonstration timeline august group local artists subsequently known society member started carrying shows setting installations premises star ferry pier attempt people awareness november pressure groups met pier collect petition signatures protesters began sit pier december demolition workers broke human chain peaceful protesters erected site december site occupied determined stop demolition december demolition resumed forcibly removed site police despite protesters remaining outside december people attended mark pier 49th anniversary activists broke police retake building protesters detained early hours morning december government vows tough protesters demolition carrying work overnight clock tower lifted piece taken site group students start hour sit hunger strike midnight hour represent year pier existence december people marched government headquarters demanding chief executive violent broke fight queen pier december legislators face demolition company selling remains suggestion clock tower demanded know whereabouts remains december newspapers published interviews witnesses claim seen old clock tower broken building waste harbour convicted criminal damage having canvas surrounding demolition works december ordered pay compensation
Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier