Upon completion, the pier outside Murray House will provide berthing for leisure and tour service vessels and connect to other popular tourist spots such as Lamma Island

Stanley, one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist icons, will undergo a HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) renovation to further enhance its attraction for visitors. Scheduled to be completed by 2007, the facelift hopes to attract even more tourists from around the world.   

The waterfront along Stanley Main Street - home to many al fresco restaurants and bars - will be turned into a tree-lined promenade. Over 100 trees will be planted to form a green backdrop.

A piazza with 20 tent-like roofs will also be built. Facing the sea are kiosks selling food and souvenirs.

"The design will enable visitors to stroll leisurely along the boardwalk, enjoying the relaxed ambience and beautiful sea view. It will also offer more opportunities for outdoor dining and street activities," said Winnifred Chung, Assistant Commissioner for Tourism.

Popular market preserved

The iconic Stanley Market Bazaar will remain unchanged. "This popular spot for bargain buys of clothing, ornaments and souvenirs will remain intact because its original and unique character is already an attraction in its own right," added Mrs Chung.

Any visitor to Stanley would have visited Murray House, a restored colonial building built in 1846, dismantled from its original site in Central and moved to Stanley in 1998.

It now houses the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, a new attraction in Stanley since its opening last September. It traces over 4,000 years of shipping development along the South China coast and its adjacent seas, and provides a comprehensive account of Hong Kong's growth and development as a major world port and top maritime centre.

As part of the facelift, a pier will be built linking to other tourist spots such as Lamma Island and the southern part of Hong Kong Island. The pier will also provide berthing for leisure and tour service vessels. The roof of the original Blake Pier in Central, which was completed in 1900, will become the roof of the new pier, blending in with the Victorian style architecture of Murray House.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board ranks Stanley as one of the top 10 attractions in Hong Kong with about 15 per cent of visitors going to the Stanley Market Bazaar.