With paint, chalk and songs, protesters show their dismay at the demolition of a city landmark
A kettle of steaming water, a man in a clock tower suit, singing, chalk drawings on pavements and hundreds of hand-drawn pictures fluttering in the breeze were just some of the artistic-themed protests that marked the last day of the Star Ferry at its Central home.
Organised by heritage group See Network, scores of volunteers urged visitors to make known their feelings on the demolition of the clock tower, Star Ferry Pier and Queen's Pier by way of painting, singing and writing.
To spur them on, a man named Sam wearing a white clock tower costume ran through the crowds yelling: 'Keep the pier where it is.'
'Obviously there are a lot of people here today who are not happy about the demolition of the clock tower,' he said. 'There was no consultation throughout this whole process. The fact there are so many people here shows what the people want.'
He and three protesters then climbed on to the roof of the tower at about 6pm and unveiled a banner demanding the pier be preserved. They stayed for 15 minutes before heeding appeals by pier staff to come down.
An unusual petition was hung up throughout the building, on a green string that crisscrossed the ceiling of the concourse. It consisted of small stickers featuring the clock tower on which petitioners had signed their names. As the day progressed and the stickers ran out, people began drawing pictures of the clock tower and writing messages on sheets of paper, which were also stuck to the string.
