Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Star Ferry

The Star Ferry started in 1888 when a Parsee cook launched a steamboat service on the Morning Star. Sir Catchick Paul Chater bought the company and launched as the Star Ferry Company in 1898. 9 ferries now serve 2 routes between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The harbour has changed significantly since then, with reclamation pushing the Hong Kong Island piers further out, and away from their customers. Ridership has fallen over the years. According to the Transport Department, in 2019, the Star Ferry logged almost 18 million passenger journeys, while there were less than 15 million by 2023, after the pandemic. On the Central route, passengers can choose between the upper and lower decks, with the upper deck having air-conditioned seatings at the front and back cabins. In May 2023, news broke out that a captain died after collapsing on board during an overnight shift. Allegations of overwork arose as it was revealed that staff typically work on a 30-day roster, split into 10 morning, 10 afternoon, and 5 overnight shifts before getting 5 days off. The collapsed captain had been on duty for 23 consecutive days when he died. These ferries played a big role in some of Hong Kong's most important historic events. In 1941, the British Governor rode it to Kowloon to surrender to the Japanese. In 1966, riots began when the company proposed a 5 cent fare increase, which eventually led to social reforms and cleaning up the corrupt police force. As part of McDonald's 50th anniversary in Hong Kong celebrations in 2025, they've decorated one ferry with a special livery and offered free rides between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui on Jan 1st.