{
  "id": 19461650,
  "title": "20 years ago, Hong Kong bid farewell to the old Central Star Ferry pier – SCMP archive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/20-years-ago-hong-kong-bid-farewell-to-the-old-central-star-ferry",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T07:15:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3374020/20-years-ago-hong-kong-bid-farewell-old-central-star-ferry-pier-scmp-archive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On November 11, 2006, the Central Star Ferry pier in Hong Kong said its goodbyes for the last time as the iconic green ferries left their berth for the final journey. The event evoked both protests and nostalgia among the thousands of people who gathered to bid farewell. The last crossing, carrying 1,800 passengers and over 100 VIPs, departed at midnight, filled to its 500-passenger limit. Tickets for the final ride sold out quickly at HK$88 per person. Alexandra Lee, 67, and her daughter Josephine Chan, 28, attended the pier to reminisce about their frequent ferry rides. Lee, who now lives in Australia with her family, said she used to take the ferry daily when she lived on Hong Kong Island, as her sons had a keen interest in ships and boats. However, the closure of the pier meant she would no longer be able to share those memories with her children. The ferry's managing director, Frankie Yick Chi-ming, expressed pride in serving Hong Kong people for 48 years since 1958, acknowledging the pier's significance in the city's collective memory. Despite the closure, the ferry operated extra crossings throughout the day, with passengers waiting over 30 minutes to board by 7pm. Vendors at the pier reported their best day of business ever, with long queues for ice cream. Photographers from around the city captured the last day of the ferry, with some using chalk to draw stars and the clock tower's image. A protest group also set up nearby, urging people to sign petitions and leave messages condemning the pier's closure and demolition.",
  "summary": "This article was first published on November 12, 2006. End of the line: the last Star Ferry slips its moorings at Central Pier by Norma Connolly and Winnie Yeung The lights of the Star Ferry clock tower and pier in Central went out at midnight last night (November 11, 2006) as the iconic green ferries left their Central berth for the last time – sparking protests for some and nostalgia for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}