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NEW STAR FERRY PIERS
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tun
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01. '.
JANITA
THO
ETTI
CTIE
Perspective of the entrance facade from the concourse, and photograph of the same eleration from original model.
To pre-war residents of Hong
years of the Japanese Occupation account for the difference between the years of our existence and the number of our yearly meetings.
"Although this is only our 48th on December 25. 1941, the Company Kong nothing is more indicative of Ordinary Yearly Meeting the Com- naturally ceased to operate. The the tremendous growth of the Colony pany has in fact been in existence than the expansion of the public for 52 years, having been incorporat- utilities and their flourishing condi- ed in 1898. In that year we took over tion in spite of varying business as a going concern the Ferry Ser- conditions. This applies particularly vices to the transportation systems, both on land and in the harbour, to which the Star Ferry is certainly no excep-
tion.
One has only to observe how over- taxed the Star Ferry piers are prac- tically all through the day, but par- ticularly during the rush periods. to realise how urgently needed are the additional pier facilities which have been planned for this system, and for which the construction work is being rushed through as rapidly as conditions will allow.
Before proceeding with the des- cription of the new piers and the facilities which they will include, it might be of interest to trace a brief history of the Company and the pro- giess it has made since its inception, During the 48th Annual Ordinary Meeting of the Company in 1950, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Hon. D.F. Landale, outlined the difficulties under which the Company was then operating and said in part:
then operated by Dorabjee Nowrojee between Victoria and Kowloon, and there are still residents of the Colony who can remember the old single-ended launches with their rattan chairs on deck.
"Steady improvements were made in the type of vessels employed on the run and in the construction and lay-out of piers, until by 1941 we were maintaining a service which for comfort, speed and cheapness was unequalled anywhere in the world.
"On the re-occupation of the in a deplorable state after four years' Colony in August 1945, the piers were lack of upkeep maintenance, and not one of our fleet was fit for service. Two vessels were afloat and struc- turally undamaged, but in need of extensive overhaul repairs and en- gine replacements. One craft had practically the whole of her super- structure cut away and the newest vessel, a Diesel-Electric craft, had been completely gutted and was nothing more than a hulk. The fifth vessel was sunk in the Typhoon Anchorage at Yaumati, and no trace be found of the sixth vessel could for some time, until it was finally dis- covered that she had sunk off Bocca
apparently hopeless position the ser- Tigris during the war.
Despite this
vice was resumed on February 1st. 1946. with two of our own vessels and "On the outbreak of hostilities in one chartered boat, and slowly but December 1941, the Company was surely the remainder of our craft requisitioned by Government. and were salvaged, reconditioned and put when disaster overtook the Colony into service.
"Six modern ferry vessels were employed in the service, which were then carrying an average of 30,000 passengers a day, reaching 50,000 per A five-minute day on peak loads. service was maintained during peak talled only about five hours daily, traffic hours, which at that time to- and missing a ferry on account of congestion was unknown.
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