Packed court hearing signals great public interest in pier's fate
A measure of how deeply the public cares about the city's history and heritage could be gauged from the numbers wanting to attend yesterday's judicial review hearing.
The proceedings started at 10am, but some people had arrived as early as 9am.
With the courtroom full with reporters and activists before 10am and more than 50 people still waiting outside, a big screen was switched on outside the courtroom, which relayed the proceedings.
Tsang Sun-cheong, 77, travelled from Tsuen Wan to Admiralty for the hearing because he feared Queen's Pier would be demolished soon.
'I brought my son and grandson here,' he said, adding that he went to the pier quite often to enjoy cooling sea breezes.
Although the pier formed part of Hong Kong's colonial history, Mr Tsang said it should be preserved for the memory of the next generation.
Chu Yick-yiu, 75, who watched the proceedings on the big screen outside court, said: 'It is good news to see our young generation today campaigning for the protection of our heritage. The government only has money in mind, putting its people's wellbeing at stake.'
Mr Chu said the case had provided an open platform for a long-needed discussion on Hong Kong's outdated conservation laws, adding that it was time for top officials to learn to respect the views of the public as well as advisory bodies.
