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An artist’s impression of a new Queen’s Pier in Central, from Central and Western District Council. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Queen’s Pier resurrected? Hong Kong officials considering design options near its former site

After years of consultations, project could begin as early as this year if Town Planning Board approves

Nearly nine years after the controversial demolition of historical Queen’s Pier, the government has unveiled three options to resurrect the site in Central with plans to start as early as this year.

But rebuilding the pier consistent with the architecture styles of two nearby piers was still under discussion, according to a document released this week by the Central and Western District Council.

Reclamation work started next to the Queen's Pier in August 2007. Photo: Martin Chan
In a study conducted by the Planning Department in 2007, the government decided to reassemble the pier, which was originally located in front of City Hall and demolished in 2008 at the waterfront area between Pier 9 and Pier 10 in Central. The study was followed by extensive government consultations.

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Three proposals were now being considered. One option was to replace the cambered roofs atop Piers 9 and 10 with pitched roofs to be consistent with resurrected Queen’s Pier. This would mean disassembling both cambered roofs, which were assembled in 2007 and made of glass. The cost could total HK$55 million.

Queen's Pier at Central in 2006 with Star Ferry Pier and IFC in the background. Photo: Robert Ng

Another option was to establish a new entry for Piers 9 and 10 to distinguish them from Queen’s Pier, placing a glass roof atop the resurrected pier to link it to the other two.

A third option was to do minor construction on existing covered walkways near the piers.

Dating to 1925, the site served as a public pier and a place of ceremony for the arrival and departure of Hong Kong’s governors before the government decided to close it for land reclamation in 2007.

Visitors at Queen’s Pier in Central. Despite strong public opposition, the site was demolished in 2007. Photo: Robert Ng

The controversial demolition of Queen’s Pier drew strong opposition from the public. The government’s subsequent attempt to resurrect the pier at the new waterfront instead of at its original location also sparked criticism.

After the demolition, the government preserved a few of the pier’s disassembled parts in a Kau Shat Wan explosives warehouse on Lantau Island.

Were a plan to be approved by the Town Planning Board, the government would apply for funding from the Legislative Council at the end of this year. If that were to happen, rebuilding could start this autumn and finish in around two years.

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