There will soon be a striking landmark on the Central waterfront - the new Star Ferry Piers which will open in November.

Civil Engineering & Development Department Senior Engineer Tang Kam-fai said the existing Star Ferry Piers in Central were built in 1957 and have become an iconic symbol of Hong Kong.

When proposed amendments to the draft Central District (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan covering the Central Reclamation III area were publicised in July 1999, there were concerns about the piers' relocation arrangements, he said.

Pier pleasure: The Star Ferry Piers, set to open in November, sport a new clock tower and public viewing decks with pitched glass roofs.

Historical heritage design

To help allay worries, the Government accepted a proposal from Star Ferry to adopt a historical heritage design approach. It used the way the piers looked in 1912 as the blueprint for constructing the new piers and clock tower.

Construction began in mid-2003. As these structures  occupy a prime waterfront site, the Government took the opportunity to develop the piers into a new landmark for public enjoyment.

The top floor of each pier features a public viewing deck, with a pitched glass roof. The deck will have a restaurant and cafe, along with sitting-out areas with benches and landscaping.

The piers are open structures with few walls, providing an unfettered view across the harbour to Kowloon.

The roofs of the two piers are built mostly of glass to allow in natural sunlight. The piers' open design allows good natural ventilation, and does not require air-conditioning.

Clock tower an icon

Both ground level and elevated walkways provide direct public access to the piers. The area beneath the Central Terminal Building will remain open space while the clock tower will become a striking landmark.

Earlier, the Star Ferry Company carried out a technical feasibility study to see whether it could relocate the existing clock mechanism from the old pier. An expert and specialist clock supplier advised against it as there was no guarantee the clock and chimes would continue to work after being moved, due to their age and obsolete components.

Ongoing maintenance of the ageing clock mechanism had also become difficult. So the company made the decision to replace the existing clock, along with a new set of five bells that sound similar to those of the old one.

The new clock is electronically operated but the new bells will chime in the same old way, by mechanical percussion. After the existing clock tower is demolished, the five old bells will be put on display in the new tower's hall.