Harbour protection groups launched farewell voyages from Queen's Pier yesterday in a last-ditch effort to preserve the pier ahead of its closure on Thursday.
About 100 people boarded the boat after tying blue ribbons - representing the harbour protection campaign - on the pier's railings.
The pier's fate after its closure is to be discussed today by officials and legislators, but the government has insisted it must make way for reclamation.
Lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, also a harbour protection activist, said they opposed dismantling the pier and would only accept in-situ preservation. He was disappointed with the changed stance of the Institute of Architects, which originally insisted the pier should not be touched.
But he remained optimistic of gathering enough support among his colleagues to force the preservation of the pier. 'The public demand preservation and they will not accept the 'reality' that the government is trying to make,' the lawmaker said.
Winston Chu Ka-sun, consultant of the Society for Protection of the Harbour, said only legislators could save the pier as they hold the power to approve funding for the reclamation project. 'It is the time for them to make their choice to represent Hong Kong people's benefits instead of the government's,' he said.
Mr Chu also criticised the four-lane road planned to link Central and Admiralty at the Queen's Pier site, saying it was 'too wide'.
