HK’s Star Ferry Relocating

One of my favourite icon of Hong Kong is getting set to move to its new location.

From The Standard newspaper.

At the stroke of midnight on November 11, as the clock on the 49-year-old tower chimes, four ferries will set sail for one last time from the Central landmark to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Locals will then get a final chance to see the building bathed in light before workers shut off the electricity.

Once the terminal moves from the original place, office workers elbowing past leisurely tourists, including myself will walk at least 15-minute away to the new terminal at rush hour making its way to a larger space and road bypass. I guess reclamation is one the delimmas for Hong Kong. One day, I will not be surprise that the entire Harbour will shrink and turned it into another extension of the HK Island. Some people say reclamation is spoiling the city’s natural beauty and ruining its biggest natural assest, the harbour itself.

Surely I’ll miss the old ferry but on the good side, it will also ease traffic congestion in Central and will make the ferries another bigger tourist attraction. At the moment, at HK$1.70 a ride on the lower deck, the cross-harbour trip is a rare bargain in one of the world’s most expensive cities - and I’m certain that the Government will have the attempt to raise fares until the new ferry terminal opens in early January 2007, next year.

And of course, the new terminals will floors for shopping and dining facilities, with a rooftop beer garden on the Kowloon side and a Star Ferry exhibition on the island side. What do you expect in Hong Kong? More shopping malls.