Save the TST bus terminal
I am writing to express my concern over the proposal to turn the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry bus terminal into a piazza. These days, the government seems to be building piazzas to attract more tourists and boost the economy.
I don't agree with the government's view that the bus terminal has no heritage value. For many years, it has been a part of life for people who travel between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Removing this important landmark would cause inconvenience to locals as well as tourists.
Many tourists come to Hong Kong to explore the city's unique culture. The bus terminal reflects Hong Kong's history and its redevelopment would not attract additional tourists.
It is more important to preserve our heritage, and the bus terminal is very much a part of our collective memory.
I believe renovating the terminal is a much better option than replacing it with a piazza.
Kathy Chiu, Methodist College
From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Kathy. The Tsim Sha Tsui bus terminal has, for many years, been a transport hub. It was once the starting point for trains to Guangzhou, and the Star Ferry has been based there for a long time. To demolish this terminal would be to destroy an important part of Hong Kong's history.
It seems that, often, the government is more interested in 'renewing' the city and looking to the future, instead of embracing what already exists and celebrating its history. Hong Kong has such a long and varied past, and with every 'heritage' site that is knocked down, another little bit of that past is lost.
Instead of focusing on building new, shiny attractions for tourists, the people in charge of these decisions should take a careful look at the value of all the historical sites that already exist, and promote those.
Karly, Deputy Editor
