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SCMP Reporter

Passengers queue to witness history  as first boat sails from new Central pier

About 30 Star Ferry enthusiasts queued up for the first ride from the new Central pier yesterday morning, saying they were determined to be a part of history.

They began waiting before dawn at the lower deck turnstiles  to get the first boat leaving for Tsim Sha Tsui at 6.30am.

Many also rode the ferry on Saturday when the lights at the old pier in Edinburgh Place were switched off at midnight after 48 years of service.

The new pier - which is officially called Central pier No7 - is an Edwardian-style building on reclaimed land a 10-minute walk away. A new clock with electronic chimes  has replaced the mechanical one in the old clock tower.

The old pier will be demolished to make way for a four-lane highway and a shopping mall as part of a reclamation plan on the Central waterfront.

The scene yesterday was in stark contrast to the last day of the old pier.  Throughout Saturday, tens of thousands flocked to the waterfront, with many wanting to take the ride one last time, while others wanted to photograph the famous clock tower.

Mr Liu, who had taken the Star Ferry from the old Central pier to Hung Hom every day since he left school, said the new pier was mock Edwardian and did not have the antique look of the old one he was so familiar with.

'But we have a wider view of the harbour now. The lights are brighter, while the lighter colour of the new pier makes it feel bigger and spacious.'

A Mr Kwan was even more delighted after taking his first trip.

'It is a fresh experience to leave from a different place,' he said. 'And it has a different atmosphere compared with the sentimental ride [on Saturday].'

He showed off postcards signed by Shek Chiu-kwan, the Star Ferry captain who operated the first ride from the new pier. 'They are collections of memories,' he said.

The first voyage took about 10 minutes.

Although ferry officials have said the new pier is 300 metres closer to Tsim Sha Tsui, the trip takes the same time because of potential boarding delays due to rougher waters at the new site.

Mr Shek was more concerned about adapting to the new route and potential boarding problems.

The 50-year-old, who has been  with Star Ferry for 12 years, admitted that waves in the harbour near the new pier could pose a problem.

'The old pier was like a shelter and it stabilised the ferry when boarding. But the new one is open to the harbour and boarding could be more difficult when the weather is bad,' he said, adding that the elderly would have to be particularly careful when getting on and off.

By 6pm 47,000 passengers had made the ferry crossing, about the same as any other Sunday.

Despite Star Ferry's objection to the reclamation plan in 1999, the government decided the pier should move. The new pier has a convenience store, bakery, cafe, bookstore and souvenir shops.



Star Ferry fans rise early for trip into uncharted waters