985
Many old residents can no doubt remember when the ferry landing at Kowloon was at a jetty between the wharves near Haiphong Road (then named Elgin Road). Later the landing was moved to the present Public Pier site. This was built at right angles to the praya which made it difficult for the ferries to get alongside owing to the strong cross tide running. It was also very exposed to winds in winter sweeping down Salisbury Road, there being no shelter or protection for passengers arriving and leaving by rickshas. The 1906 typhoon accounted for this wharf (see the photograph on this page) and a new one was constructed in the present position of the Public Pier. Some time afterwards the present Kowloon "Star" Ferry pier was constructed. On the Hongkong side, the site of the pier has remained practically unchanged.
The Star Ferry wharf at Kowloon was constructed in the year 1905.
The work of building the new Pier was entrusted to Mr. D. Macdonald, Beaconsfield Arcade, Mr. Ough of Messrs. Leigh and Orange having some time ago prepared the design. Unfortunately, however, there was considerable delay in getting the necessary timber.
"The new pier," writes the Hongkong Telegraph of March 25, 1905, "which is to be erected a little to the Hongkong side of the Water Police basin, is to be a structure of a much more permanent and suitable nature than the existing one. It will have two platforms, the launches gliding into a V so that the present unpleasant bumping from side to side will be entirely done away with. One platform will, we understand, be reserved exclusively for first-class passengers. This improvement will be welcomed particularly by ladies who are put to the disagreeable necessity at present of intermingling with evil-smelling Indians and others of a low and untidy class who make use of the second-class accommodation on the launches. Waiting rooms will be provided on each platform, and passengers, particularly Kowloonites who make regular daily use of the ferries, will welcome the shelter afforded.
"It is also intended to have a book-stall on a better plan than at present and to arrange for a better system of regulating the ricksha men. By the existing system one daily runs the risk of sustaining serious accident.
"Two large godowns belonging to the Godown Company have been demolished and passengers, when the pier is in use, will be required to take a new route to their respective destinations. The existing routes along the front of the godowns will be practically closed to public traffic of this sort. Rickshas will now have a fine wide clear road free of godown traffic leading over what was formerly the site of the godowns past the time ball and along to the chief residential quarter (Robinson Road) by the road in front of Victoria View.
"It is the intention, we understand, to build a similar pier at the Hongkong terminus at a later date and, when traffic warrants an accelerated service, there will be two Vs on both sides accommodation for a launch going as another comes in, the middle platform being reserved, as already stated for first-class passengers but divided in such a way that there will be no confusion as passengers embark on one launch while the other empties itself.
2.
985
Many old residents can no doubt remember when the ferry lending at Kowloon was at a jetty between the wharves near Haiphong Road (then named Elgin Road). Later the lending was moved to the present Public Fier site. This was built at right angles to the praya which made it difficult for the Zerries to get alongside owing to the strong cross tide running. It was also very exposed to winds in winter sweeping down Salisbury Road, there being no shelter or protection for passengers arriving and leaving by riokshas. The 1906 typhoon accounted for this wharf (see the photograph on this page) and a new one was constructed in the present position of the Public Pier, Some time afterwards the present Kowloon "Star" Ferry pier was constructed. On the Hongkong side, the site of the pier has remained practically unchanged.
The Star Ferry wharf at Kowloon was constructed in the year
The work of building the new Pier was entrusted to Mr.
1905. D. Macdonald, Beaconsfield Arcade, Mr. Ough of Messrs. Leigh and Orenge having some time ago prepared the design. Unfortuna telj however, there was considerable delay in getting the necessary timber.
"The new pier, " writes the Hongkong Telegraph of March 25, 1905, *which is to be erected a little to the Hongkong side of the Water Police basin, is to be a structure of a much more permanent and suitable nature than the existing one. It will have two platforms, the launches gliding into a V so that the present unpleasant bumping from side to side will be entirely done away with. One platform will, we understand, be reserved exclusively for first-class passengers. This improvement will be welcomed particularly by ladies who are put to the dis- agreeable necessity at present of intermingling with evil-smelling Indiens and othere of a low and untidy class who make use of the second-class accommodation on the launches. Waiting room will be provided on each platform, and passengers, particularly. Kowloonites who make regular daily use of the ferries, will welcome the shelter afforded.
"It is also intended to have a book-stall on a better plan tha at present and to arrange for a better system of regulating the ricksha men. By the existing system one daily runs the risk of sustaining serious accident..
"Two large godowns belonging to the Godown Company have been demolished and passengers, when the pier is in use, will be required to take a new route to their respective destinations. The existing routes along the front of the godowns will be practically closed to public traffic of this sort. Rickshas will now have a fine wide olear road of godown traffic leading over what was formerly the site of the godowns past the time ball and along to the chief residential quarter (Robinson Road) by the road in front of Victoria View.
"It is the intention, we understand, to build e similer fier at the Hongkong terminus at a later date and, when traffic warrants en accelerated service, there will be two Vs on both sides accommodation for a launch going as another comes in, the middle platform being reserved, as already stated for first-class passengere but divided in such a way that there will be no con- fusion as pessangers emberk on one launch while the other empties itself.
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