Actor Chow lends support to Hong Kong heritage battle

Hong Kong film star, Chow Yun-Fat, seen here 12 December 2006, has backed a campaign to save a pier that was a landing point for royalty in the former British colony, a media report said Sunday.[AFP]

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, star of the global hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", has backed a campaign to save a pier that was a landing point for royalty during the colonial era, a media report said Sunday.

Chow, dressed in a low-key baseball hat and tracksuit, visited Queen's Pier early on Saturday morning as protesters led a vigil against its demolition, the Sunday Morning Post reported.

The actor arrived in a mini-van in the early hours of the morning as most of the protesters slept and signed a huge banner strung across the condemned pier, which has become a symbol of the city's dwindling architectural heritage.

The actor asked simply: "How are you guys doing? How long are you going to stay here for?" the report said.

One of the protesters, Yip Po-lam told the Post: "We're overwhelmed by his visit. He is an icon of Hong Kong, we grew up watching his TV dramas."

Built in 1957, Queen's Pier, was closed on Thursday night and will be demolished as part of a redevelopment plan that will see a huge swathe reclaimed from the famous Victoria Harbour to make way for a congestion-relieving bypass.

The pier has a colourful history. It was the landing point for many a visit by the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth -- after whom the pier was named -- in 1975, and the late Princess Diana in 1989.

It was also the ceremonial boarding point for visiting dignitaries.

The once-nearby Star Ferry pier and clock tower were demolished last month as part of the redevelopment plan criticised by conservationists for blocking a huge part of the harbour from the public.

Rows over the demolition sparked renewed concern for the fate of Hong Kong's heritage buildings, which preservationists say are being rapidly destroyed to make way for lucrative real estate projects.