「急要!!!!二十分的問題」皇后碼頭的歷史(英文版)

Queen's Pier (皇后碼頭), named after Queen Victoria, is a pier in front of City Hall in Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong.

The pier is stepping intp history[1]. Built in 1957 on reclaimed land, to replace a pier adjacent to the Mandarin Hotel, which was then near the waterfront.

The pier was designed by British architects Ron Phillips and Alan Fitch in 1956 as part of the City Hall development and adjacent public open space, which included Edinburgh Place. The pier was "an integral part" of the development, with the entrance to the City Hall forming an axis with the Pier to lend a sense of occasion to visiting dignatories. It was considered essential to combine the goal of juxtaposing the city bustle with maximising public access to the very limited open space in Central. The out-sized public areas were conceived as a natural extension to promote the "freedom of movement and a sense of unlimited space"[2].

The structure consists of tiled concrete base and pillars, and was modelled after previous piers in the area. Stairs are located on the north side to allow ferry passengers to board and disembark.

Queen's Pier (皇后碼頭), named after Queen Victoria, is a pier in front of City Hall in Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong.

[edit] History

The pier is steeped in history[1]. Built in 1957 on reclaimed land, to replace a pier adjacent to the Mandarin Hotel, which was then near the waterfront.

[edit] Design

The pier was designed by British architects Ron Phillips and Alan Fitch in 1956 as part of the City Hall development and adjacent public open space, which included Edinburgh Place. The pier was "an integral part" of the development, with the entrance to the City Hall forming an axis with the Pier to lend a sense of occasion to visiting dignatories. It was considered essential to combine the goal of juxtaposing the city bustle with maximising public access to the very limited open space in Central. The out-sized public areas were conceived as a natural extension to promote the "freedom of movement and a sense of unlimited space"[2].

The structure consists of tiled concrete base and pillars, and was modelled after previous piers in the area. Stairs are located on the north side to allow ferry passengers to board and disembark.

[edit] Function

Old Star Ferry Pier (front left) and Queen's Pier (front right). The new piers (background left) now in full operation.

It was formerly a ceremonial landing area for the British Royal Family visiting Hong Kong, and for successive Governors to assert their authority when arriving in Hong Kong. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II landed there in 1975, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales landed there in November 1989.

The pier is also a public pier, where pleasure craft were allowed to dock. Tour boats offering a view of the Kowloon side of the harbour use the pier for passenger boarding. Up to 1978, it was the winning line for the annual cross-harbour swimming race.

The pier's role diminished with most visitors coming by air. For several decades, the pier has served as a meeting point for people strolling the area, and some for fishing.

On April 26, 2007, the pier was officially closed in order to facilitate reclamation works in Central[3]. Once complete, the Central Reclamation project will generate 1 million square metres of land for development[4].

[edit] The Pier's Future

This article documents a current event.

Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Following the controversy following the demolition of the Star Ferry Pier in Edinburgh Place, activists made Queen's Pier the next battle-ground against the conservation policy of the Government of Hong Kong.

Following the criticism received over its handling of the Star Ferry Pier, the Government floated the idea of a piece-by-piece relocation of the Pier to a new location on the reclaimed waterfront. The plan was floated during a Legco session by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands` on March 21, 2007[5]. The Government later unveiled four design options for such relocation[6]. The intended closure of the pier was announced for Thursday April 26, 2007.

[edit] Preservation campaign

Soon after the unsuccessful attempt to save the Star Ferry pier, a campaign to preserve the Pier in situ was launched. Ahead of the closure, members of the public, environmentalists, and some lawmakers tying blue ribbons to indicate their desire to preserve the Harbour. On April 22, about 100 protesters once again rallied at the Pier, launching farewell voyages in a last-ditch attempt to urge the Government to reconsider[7]. A petition of over 400 signatures from the Arts community had been collected[4].