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Vivienne Chow

Hundreds queued yesterday to buy tickets for the last Star Ferry services from Central  pier.

Tickets, priced at HK$88, went on sale at 11.30am at the Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui, with the proceeds destined for charities.

Early birds began queuing before 7am. An elderly woman named Mrs Cheung, who was the first in the queue, arrived at 5am.

By 10am, the queue had nearly reached the Cultural Centre, so Star Ferry staff decided to move the queue to a vacant pier. They began selling tickets 30 minutes early.

Each person was allowed to buy up to five tickets. The Star Ferry company had 1,800 tickets for sale yesterday. The last rides will take place on November 11, with four ferries taking passengers from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui as the clock strikes midnight. Ticket proceeds will be donated to the Community Chest and other charities.

People who bought tickets said they wanted to reminisce about the many memories they had of the old pier.

Fifty-year-old retiree  Mrs Cheung  tried hard to hold back her  tears as she recalled  the many romantic trips she took with her late husband.

'It was around 1970. We took boat trips together often. It was very romantic and the fare was cheap. I think it was only about 20 cents,' said Mrs Cheung, who bought five tickets.  'But my husband has passed away.  This pier reminds me of him.'

Another retiree, Anita Hung, 55,  bought four tickets. Ms Hung said it was a shame the old Central pier had to go - and she recalled a frightening memory.

'I was on the lower deck and I saw a woman jumping off the boat trying to kill herself. I was only eight. That memory still haunts me,' said Ms Hung.

Ms Chan,  who bought one ticket for herself,  said  the demolition of the old pier was like a mother leaving her son. The 70-year-old has been living in Hong Kong since she was 13.

There were also many young people queuing.  Form One students Li Ka-ho and Lee Kwun-sing bought three tickets  and said they felt sad  the old pier was to be pulled down.  They said the government had left  young people nothing of the old Hong Kong that they would have loved to learn about. 'Old architecture should be kept so that we can learn about what Hong Kong was like and how it has evolved,' said Ka-ho, 13.

Hong Kong On the Move Performance Art Project  members performed at the Central pier  to protest against the demolition.

The pier, built in 1957,  will  close  on November 12 in preparation for its demolition to  make way  for  a four-lane Central-Admiralty road link.



Hundreds seek a sentimental ride on last Star Ferry from Central pier