Hong Kong Island: Central & Sheung Wan - Hong Kong: Top Sights, Local Life, Made Easy - page 52

Don't Miss
Kowloon Concourse
In 1910 the Kowloon-Canton Railway was built near the Kowloon concourse, linking
Hong Kong with the mainland. On Christmas Day 1941 the colonial governor took the
ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, where he surrendered to the Japanese at the Peninsula Hotel. You
can still see the Clock Tower of the original train station and, of course, the Peninsula
Hotel. In 1966 thousands gathered at the Kowloon concourse to protest against a fare in-
crease. The protest erupted into the 1966 Riot, the first in a series of important social
protests leading to colonial reform.
Piers
The pier on Hong Kong Island is an uninspiring Edwardian replica that was built to re-
place the old pier at Edinburgh Pl - in streamline moderne style and with a clock tower -
that was demolished despite vehement opposition from Hong Kong people. The Kowloon
pier, resembling a finger pointing at the Island, remains untouched.
The Logo
The Star Ferry was founded in 1880 by a Parsee from Bombay who was living in Hong
Kong. Parsees are Zoroastrian, a religion from Persia, and the five-pointed star on the Star
Ferry logo is in fact an ancient Zoroastrian symbol. In the Christmas tale, the three magi
from the East who followed the star to Bethlehem, were Zoroastrian pilgrims.
Top Tips
› Take your first trip on a clear night from Kowloon to Central. It's more dramatic in this direction.
› For a surreal experience, take a ride during the nightly Symphony of Lights laser show (between 8pm and
8.20pm).
› If you don't mind noise and fumes, the lower deck (only open on the Tsim Sha Tsui-Central route) is better for
photos.
› The coin-operated turnstiles take exact change or the Octopus card; you can get change from the ticket window.