The is a passenger
Ferry service operator in
Hong Kong ,
China . Its principal routes carry passengers across the
Victoria Harbour , between
Hong Kong Island and
Kowloon .
The fleet of twelve
Ferries operates four routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers a day, or 26 million a year. Even though there are now other ways to cross the harbour (by
MTR and road tunnels), the Star Ferry continues to provide an efficient, popular and inexpensive mode of crossing the harbour. The company's main route runs between
Central and
Tsim Sha Tsui , which is what most people mean by "the Star Ferry" in common parlance.
This route is also popular with tourists, and has become one of the icons of Hong Kong heritage in the eyes of tourists. The ferry itself, and the layout of the Kowloon pier are completely recognizable in the
1961 Film ''
The World Of Suzie Wong ''. From the ferry, one can take in the famous view of the harbour and the
Hong Kong skyline.
Before the steam ferry was created, people would voyage across the harbour in
Sampan s. In 1870, a man named Grant Smith had brought a twin-screw wooden-hulled boat from England and started running it across the harbour, at irregular intervalsEric Cavaliero,
Star of the harbour , The Standard, February 6 1997.
In July 1873, an attempt was made to run steam ferries between Hong Kong and Kowloon. This was stopped at the time at the request of the British consul in Canton.
The company was originally founded by , prior to his retirement to India. The company name was inspired by his love of
Alfred Lord Tennyson 's poem "
Crossing The Bar ", of which the first line reads ''"Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!"''.
Nowrojee sold the company to Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf on his retirement.
]]
A pier constructed on the western end of Salisbury Road opened in 1906, but was destroyed by typhoon in September 1906. In the early 1950s, construction of the present twin-piered terminal commenced on both sides of Victoria Harbour, designed to handle 55 million passenger trips a year.Steven Ribet and Amy Tse,
Making the connection ,
The Standard , September 01, 1999 The structure was completed in
1957 , concurrent with the
Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier was built on the island side.
At the turn of the century, Hong Kong currency and Canton currency were both accepted as tender in Hong Kong. In the autumn of 1912, following a devaluation, the Star Ferry caused a controversy by insisting, together with the tramways, that payment had to be made in Hong Kong currency only. Canton coinage would no longer be accepted.Richard Frost,
History floats aboard Star ferries , ''The Standard, May 01, 1998''
In
1924 the
Yaumati Ferry would operate the route to Kowloon in duopolyWiltshire, Trea.
published 1987 (republished & reduced2003). Old Hong Kong - Volume One. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. Page 71. ISBN Volume One 962-7283-59-2. In 1933 the Star Ferry made history by building the ''Electric Star'', the first diesel electric passenger ferry of its kind.
By 1941, the company had six vessels. During the
Japanese Occupation Of Hong Kong , the competing Yaumati Ferry was allowed to continue, while the Japanese commandeered the Star Ferry for their own purposes. The ''Golden Star'' and the ''Meridian Star'' were used to transport
Prisoners Of War from
Sham Shui Po to
Kai Tak . In 1943, the ''Golden Star'' was bombed and sunk in the
Canton River by the Americans, and the ''Electric Star'' was sunk in the harbour. After the war, the ferries were dredged up and returned to service.
Until the opening of the
Cross Harbour Tunnel in
1972 , the Star Ferry remained the main means of public transportation between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon side.
The Star Ferry operates on a franchise from the Government. It was last renewed in March 1998, the year of its centenary.
The Star Ferry makes a "star turn" in the
1950s film ''
The World Of Suzie Wong ''. In the beginning of the film, Robert Lomax (played by
William Holden ) debarks from the USS President Harrison (an old
American President Lines transpacific passenger vessel) and takes the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, and on the ferry meets Suzie Wong (played by
Nancy Kwan ), who scorns his attentions. The ferry itself is completely recognizable, and the layout of the pier where William Holden debarks in Kowloon is familiar to the resident or denizen of
Tsim Sha Tsui , minus the giant shopping malls constructed since the film was shot.
See Also: Hong Kong 1966 riots
In
1966 , a fare increase of 5 cents (or 25%) of the ferry was a political milestone, as it caused a 27 year-old student to go on hunger strike in protest at the Edinburgh Place terminal. His arrest sparked the
1966 Hong Kong Riots .
See Also: Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier#Controversy
On November 11, 2006, the end of an era was marked when the third generation pier in Central, the
Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier , ended its mission, along with the big clock tower. The pier was be demolished to make way for reclamation, amidst sentimental objections and some violent protests.
The Star Ferry operates the following cross-harbour routes:
- Central to Tsim Sha Tsui , costing HK$1.7 for the lower deck, HK$2.2 for the upper deck
- Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui for HK$2.2
- Central to Hung Hom for HK$5.3
- Wan Chai to Hung Hom for HK$5.3
- Harbour Tour: a tourist cruise, making an indirect, circular route to all the stops, namely Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai, and Hung Hom.
There are currently 8 ships in the Star fleet with average age of the fleet at 44 years:
