The High Court has ruled the Antiquities Authority's decision not to declare Queen's Pier a monument lawful. Welcoming the ruling, the Development Bureau said the judgment will allow works to preserve Queen's Pier to proceed as planned.

In a judgment handed down today following a whole-day hearing on August 7, Justice Lam dismissed an application lodged by two members of Local Action to judicially review the Antiquities Authority's (then, the Secretary for Home Affairs') decision to not declare the pier a monument.

The judgment contained clear references that, in coming to the decision, the Antiquities Authority had duly taken into account all relevant factors - including the respective roles of the Antiquities Advisory Board, the Antiquities & Monuments Office and the Antiquities Authority.

Decision's legality upheld

The Antiquities Authority had also given solid and concrete reasons for coming to the decision in papers submitted to the Legislative Council.

In short, the Judge upheld the procedural and substantive legality of the Antiquities Authority's decision.

The bureau said the preservation works should proceed as scheduled without further delay

Community views to be sought

In accordance with the implementation plan submitted to LegCo, metalware and non-structural parts will be removed and temporary support erected to preserve the pier's structural parts. All parts to be retained will be carefully dismantled and removed for proper storage.

The Government will engage the community in identifying the most suitable and preferred location for re-assembling Queen's Pier. This will take place in the context of the Planning Department's Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront, which is underway.