UK Clock expert to arrive in HK

Boy has it been another frantic week of developments in the battle to save Star Ferry.
Last week, the announcement that Star Ferry had removed the clock mechanism in the middle of the night was a major setback for us. This would have wasted all our efforts in sending the clock expert to HK to save it. I was so pissed off...the government, although they knew we were sending someone along so that a proper analysis could be done, made no effort in stopping work, but in fact stepped up demolition and issued "permits" so that work can be carried on at night. (I read somewhere that these permits were illegal) Melvyn therefore had cancel sending the expert over.

However on Thursday, as the protests grew, Patsy informed us that Legco wanted to see our clock expert in their special meeting on Monday! More frantic phonecalls! In the end, I managed to book a sunday flight for their clock maker Neil-Brennan Wright.

He should have touched down by now, the ball's in your court government.

HK Government, the Destroyer of Heritage

enough said

Bastards, they took out the bells and clock mechanism

I can't believe it.

They took out the clock mechanism last night whilst we were sleeping. How dare they...does the Hong Kong Government think they do not need to be accountable to us? This is a slap in the face. Our plan to bring the clock expert over to HK is now on hold, now waiting to see what steps the campaigners in HK want to do next.

Patsy has informed me that Star Ferry has ordered their workers to tak the clock mechanism down and have stored it on a barge. The whole argument for NOT TAKING IT DOWN is that it requires a SPECIALIST to do it! If you get some stupid workmen, they will damage it and these things are very delicate! by breaking parts, you will either risk it not being able to be put back together, and compromising the WHOLE point of saving the mechanism as a cultural artifact.

She is trying to get Star Ferry to allow our expert to look at the mechanism, even if its been taken down, but no luck so far. They wont listen.

CLOCK SPECIALIST FROM UK FLYING TO HK!

Spoke to Melvyn Lee of Thwaites and Reed, a well known clock makers in the UK, used to maintain Big Ben and have been involved with restoration jobs on famous clocks around the world.

Melvyn has kindly arranged for one of their senior clock specialist to fly to Hong Kong this Saturday! SEE network are currently arranging a media session to publicise this event.

Hopefully we can talk some sense to the government.

Hidden reports surfaces, Cheeky bastards

The friends over at Project SEE have just uncovered a report, (why did we only just find it now???) apparently an Environmental Impact Assessment report conducted several years ago concluded that: ""the whole complex should be kept intact" and goes on about the historical and cultural importance of the pier, that it might be the single most important building in Hong Kong.

So the government has been telling us big fat lies and hiding the facts. They are now rushing ahead with the demolition before any legal action can be taken. Just like in the previous court case against harbour reclamation, the government wants to rush ahead so that their project is on schedule thus avoid paying millions in compensation for delayed work to the contractor. ITS ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$ Heres 2 pages from one of the reports:

PROTEST TODAY! 9am - evening! COME AND SUPPORT IT!

Just had a chat with the mysterious Loy, Hoy spiderman activist. They are planning a Human Chain at the site entrance to the Star Ferry. Time to get down and dirty!!

The idea of Human Chains is very interesting, I think this should be the new approach to saving HK's architecture and it can be compared to the phenomenom of "treesitting".

"Tree sitting is a form of environmentalist civil disobedience in which a protester sits in a tree, usually on a small platform built for the purpose, to protect it from being cut down (speculating that loggers will not endanger human lives by cutting an occupied tree). Supporters usually provide the tree sitters with food and other necessary supplies. Tree sitters have successfully prevented logging of ancient old growth forests for months at a time, and in some instances have convinced logging companies not to cut trees in some areas. Sometimes, tree sitting is used as a long-term resistance strategy, with activists occupying trees for months or years at a time. On the other hand, tree sitting is often used as a stalling tactic, to prevent the cutting of trees while lawyers fight in the courts to secure the long-term victories." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_sitting)

Everyone, get out your tents, and camp on the roof of Star Ferry!

HELP NEEDED! CALL 9120 6017

Just got an email from Loy (who is this mysterious Loy?) He / she needs one volunteer today URGENTLY! call 9120 6017. Yes.. pick up the phone you lazy bastards!

STOP THIS MADNESS!

WTF??! you bastards..trying to demolish our Star Ferry as soon as possible...sneaky bastards...Dont think we cant see what you are doing!

I use to find buildings clad in green fabric and scaffolding quite beautiful..but in this case, its like a bodybag. Time is running out.....Jesus i can understand Treehuggers now...I want to chain myself to the clock.

check out the pics:

http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!JB2aeQ2LHxnRfOVnF9CQ1w--/article?mid=1553

more comments here:

http://chungpong.over-blog.com/

Clock Tower Mechanism

Did you know, the Star Ferry Clock Tower in Central, is the only mechanical clock left in Hong Kong? It was originally built by the same company which built Big Ben's famous clock chime mechanism in London. E Dent was the manufacturer and they no longer exisit, making this clock mechanism historically rare. Mears and Stainbanks, also known as the Whitechapel Foundry in London cast the bells, and they were shipped all the way from the UK back in the 1957.

According to Star Ferry, they had previously carried out a technical feasibility study to see whether it could relocate the clock mechanism to the new site. http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/060829/features/html/060829en06002.htm#However, An "expert" and specialist clock supplier advised against relocation as there was no guarantee the clock and chimes would continue to work after relocation, due to their age and obsolete components.

Recently, I have done my own bit of research contacting clockmakers in the UK regarding this. According Melvin Lee, the director of Thwaites and Reed (the company who were responsible for maintaining Big Ben), this is not true!

These clock mechanisms are massively over-engineered, making them very robust pieces of machinery. Somebody with a background in clock maintenance or naval engineering with access to a workshop can very easily maintain and replace parts. The most wear usually happens within the bearings, and they are designed to be replaced.

What a load of bollocks Star Ferry. Either this "expert" of yours didn't do their homework, or you have no intention of saving this clock tower at all, and any excuse to demolish it will be used.

Fake history

According to Civil Engineering & Development Department Senior Engineer Tang Kam-fai, "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."

Firstly, why the hell do you want to copy an Edwardian design? Do you really think that by creating a psuedo-historical appearance, it will justify destroying real heritage and replacing it with fake history?

Secondly, if you wanted to give a historic appearance, why did you guys make such a mess of it? #1 The colours and scale are wrong. Its pink. and it looks 10 times bigger than the previous one (since it is a bigger pier) so now it looks flat and stretched.
#2 The font and colour is terrible. The words "Central Pier" are done is such a crappy font and rediculous red colour, it might as well say "Disneyland"
#3 This building is totally out of context. Are there any edwardian buildings in Hong Kong? Why don't you build it in an Egyptian Style instead smartass? Gosh..If you had made a modern building, I wouldnt feel so bad about it. But the fact that we are replacing such an iconic building with this crappy building, really pisses me off.

If we are talking about an appropriate architectural style that really captures the past, the essence and history of Hong Kong, I would definitely say the Streamline-moderne style of the 1957 pier is something is more appropriate. This marked the period when Hong Kong was beginning its post-war success story, rising from the ashes of WWII. There are only a few public buildings in this style left - Wan Chai Market, and Central Market (both soon to be demolished.)

The Edwardian pier on the otherhand, symbolised a time when Hong Kong was firmly under the control of the British Empire, where the Chinese were at the bottom of the heap.

Really, the designers should have a bit more understanding of history, and better sense of cultural value.

No.1 - Hong Kong's New Star Ferry Pier

Welcome to Hong Kong(land)! We have decided to demolish our historic 50 year old pier, and replace it with this elegant "Edwardian" design. This reminds me of some nasty villa for the nouveau riche you find on the mainland.

Jesus. what were they thinking? I have been trying to find out who in their right mind would have designed such an ugly building. Surely this will qualify as one of the top 10 ugliest buildings in Hong Kong? From my research, I believe the CEDD (Civil Engineering Development Department) are responsible for this monstrosity. Nice one guys

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/060829/features/html/060829en06002.htm#