Comprehensive approach to preservation needed
The growing clamour for preservation of Hong Kong's heritage has spread from the apparently lost cause of holding on to the old Star Ferry pier and its clock tower to the adjoining Queen's Pier. With the shift in the campaign to save the sites from redevelopment, the debate has further moved from one of preservation of the tangible to maintaining the historic memory of citizens.
Our laws on preserving our past are weak and struggle even to save historic buildings, let alone keeping memories alive. But the case of the piers clearly demonstrates the need to rethink the legislation to build an over-arching approach to keeping what is important to Hong Kong for future generations to enjoy.
Only concrete and metal railings mark the 53-year-old Queen's Pier. During the final years of British colonial rule, however, it was where governors landed on their arrival. For ordinary citizens, it has even greater meaning, being where newlyweds from the City Hall marriage registry have gone for photographs and from where pleasure craft loaded with happy weekenders have started and ended journeys.
The arguments for saving Queen's Pier are not, however, as strong as those in favour of preserving the old Star Ferry pier. Despite the memories and the pier's functional value, it does not have striking features such as the clock tower and building which helped make the Star Ferry such an icon. Now that the clock tower has gone, an integral part of the whole area has been removed and attempts to save Queen's Pier seem futile.
Saving either pier will be very difficult given the advanced stage of plans for their removal. Nonetheless, there are important lessons to learn from this affair. The debate has furthered an already kindled interest in preserving our heritage and that is good given the patchy, case-by-case approach so far adopted by the government.
Both piers are likely to disappear within weeks and a promenade has been promised by officials as part of the project. Plaques indicating the sites and their significance to Hong Kong must be put beside the walkway. It is also vital that the whole development of the harbourside in Central provides something of which Hong Kong people can be similarly proud.