History of the Hong Kong "Star" Ferry Co.

The earliest report of a ferry service appeared in a local newspaper dated 28th December 1888: “Steam launch ‘Morning Star’ runs daily as a ferry boat between Pedders Wharf and Tsim Sha Tsui at the following hours (a 40 minutes to one hour service during all hours of the day). There will be no launch on Monday and Friday, on account of coaling."

The ferry service was originally founded by a prominent Parsee, Dorabjee Nowrojee, under the name of the Kowloon Ferry Company. Some reports say it was about ten years later, upon acquiring the total assets from Nowrojee, that the Star Ferry Company as we know it today came into existence. Despite the lack of detailed documentation, it would seem appropriate that the new company took its name from the vessels it acquired, which all bore the name “Star”. Some of the original names like “Morning Star” and “Night Star” have indeed remained to the present day.

LEFT: These ferries look exactly the same as they were 30 years ago. A lot of memories...

BELOW: beautiful Victoria Harbour during sunset

The distance between the pier and the ferry is the same as that in my memory... a crossover plank is lowered for passengers to go on and off board. I remember that the plank moves terribly when Hong Kong is being hit by a typhoon.

The Pier.

UPPER: the new pier at Central, Hong Kong Island.

LEFT, BELOW: the old pier at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

I just love the Victoria Harbour.