Q: Why did you decide to run for LegCo?
A few weeks ago, my family and I decided to take the ferry from central to TST. We walked along from the tram stop at central and up along the elevated footbridge. About mid point is the Central reclamation.
My children stop and asked me a simple question. What happen here, is this not where the ferry pier use to be? The conversation went on about how the government has knock down the pier and is going to build a road there instead. My daughter further ask why does the government do that, can't we do anything about it?
She also asked me "Daddy why can't you tell the government to stop, can you stop all this from happening?"
It then dawn on me that yes, maybe I should have tried harder before and do something more than just complaining about it. Perhaps I can and should make a difference?
Q: What are your view about the Queens pier?
I like to start with the Star ferry pier, you see the ferry pier has quite a lot meaning to me and my family. Each year just before Christmas for the past eight years, we do this trip where we take the tram to central, then the ferry from the old Star ferry to TST, the purpose is simply to see the display of lights from the harbour. The walk starts at stature square where there is really a wonderful display there annually, we then walk along the underpass, for which every year except for the last was decorated, full of Christmas display. We then take the ferry, the same journey that I use to take with my Grandmother over 30 years ago, the smell of grease and oil with the sea air, walk on the old wooden gang-plank as we board.
The cool slightly chilly breeze of winter. Yes, these are really perfect moments, encapsulating everything what Hong Kong is all about.
And the harbour, this beautiful harbour of ours that has set the scene for so many stories, films and novels, from Suzy Wong to 007.
From the ferry, we look across both sides to see our skyline in all its glory.
I guess my point is that the Queens Pier may have equally as strong memories for others as the Star Ferry Pier has been for my family and I, after all it is where many gets on their boats to rides out to the islands, where the old royals, and successive colonial governors goes for their sea trips, in short historically it forms what is now commonly known as our "collective memories".
And yes, these are parts of our heritage of the people of Hong Kong, our collective memories that now only exist in our thoughts alone.
So back to the the reason why I am standing for LegCo?
There are times when we say "enough is enough" this is the line which must not be cross but they are. When citizen rise up and say no more.
When someone say "what would you prefer a star ferry pier or the queens pier that is part of Hong Kong history, our history. Or knock it all down and put a big multi-lane road. There is really no contest. When we are ask do we want this harbour or more road and offices? The answer to me should be simple.
Q: So do you mean collective memory, what are your view of this collective memory?
When something is gone from our lives, that is it, we might have fond memories. , even if you try and replicate it, rebuilding it is really not the same. If we want to see replicants, there are many places to go, including just across the boarder to the "Window of the World" in SZ or Disney or Lego land (perhaps "LegCo Land" of the future may share the same fate).
The question to everyone of us must be , what can be the next? Are there anything that can be considered as sacred , How about the old LegCo building itself? Should that become part of a road too? What about Victoria park, this last remainly bit of green space in HK? I am sure building a roard across would ease traffic big time. Would there not be a day when the government decide even the entire Victoria harbour could be filled in, because traffic is just so bad and slow. So that we can then just drive across, we can build more tall towers, offices and huge shopping centers all the way along the stretch from Shengwan over to quarry bay as a continue strip, we could then have a further 12 lane super highway running across it.
As LegCo, I think I can help to defend for our collective memories, be that voice who would and should have said a firm No. To draw that line and be that voice for the Electors.
To ask the question is there really a better way? Are we to forever continue to build and build without any regards to the future, our future for us and our children who has no say in whether they would want to continue to take the ferry from star ferry.
To be able to breath fresh clean air, everyday. To be able to see across the harbour and the distance mountains. To see the stars up in our night sky. To have a harbour that does not get narrower and narrower year on year.
That is my dream, my believe and my pledge to electors that I will speak out. As I truly believe that many like me, we are at the tipping point of enough is enough.
But in the end, it is your choice too, I am hoping that people would join me, help to make a better world for our future. A better, cleaner and greener future.
(Pictures are copyright under a creative common attribution sharealike license from Wikipedia)
