With the Star Ferry pier in Central little more than a memory, it is time for the government of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to re-examine its consultation procedures and find out how it could have got public sentiment so wrong.
Instead, it seems the government's position is that it was right and that the people were wrong. This was made clear by Michael Suen Ming-yeung, the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, who said people should learn a lesson and express their views earlier.
'We have consulted very widely among various stakeholders ... We have consulted the relevant district councils, Mr Suen said. 'We have consulted the Legislative Council and other stakeholders.'
The problem is that the government had not consulted any of the people who went on hunger strike in an attempt to save the pier and its clock tower.
It had not consulted the people who climbed up the scaffolding and demanded a meeting with Mr Suen. It had not consulted the demonstrators who, even at the last minute, tried to halt the demolition.
In short, the government had not consulted the people.