Red tape, high cost: can Hong Kong’s new yacht scheme chart a smoother course?
Retired harbour pilot Alex Yu Chi-leung sailed his 50-foot wooden yacht, Bowline, from Causeway Bay in Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai under a new cross-border yachting scheme last week, but bureaucratic hurdles and shallow waters tempered the excitement of the leisure trip. It was Yu’s first voyage under the scheme, but it could also be his last unless mainland Chinese authorities improve…
Bureaucratic hurdles and shallow waters marred Alex Yu Chi-leung's maiden voyage under a new cross-border yachting scheme from Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai. The 66-year-old sailor expressed that if procedures were simplified, he would return, as the current requirements were too numerous and ambiguous. Out of 139 participants aboard 16 yachts, 13 stayed for a night, while the rest spent two nights on Dongao Island, known for its seafood, hotel suites, and natural scenery.
Despite initial technical issues such as a broken propeller and inadequate pontoons, the flotilla's main concern appeared to be the lengthy immigration procedures at Guishan Island, which took about 20 minutes and involved multiple checks. For some participants, the trip was a cost-effective and relaxing experience compared to staying in Hong Kong, but concerns about the potential economic impact on local businesses still lingered.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
