Five Guangdong yachts enter HK under new scheme

Five yachts originating from Guangdong entered Hong Kong waters on Friday, marking the commencement of a new scheme aimed at facilitating cross-border yacht visits. As the vessels docked one after another at the Lantau Yacht Club in Discovery Bay around noon, nearby boats sounded their horns as a welcoming gesture. The range of the yachts spanned from approximately 13 to 38 meters, with three hailing from Shenzhen, one from Nansha, and one from Zhuhai.

During a welcoming ceremony officiated by Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong, he expressed Hong Kong's ambition to become Asia's yacht hub. Wong highlighted the rapid growth of the global yacht market, particularly in the luxury segment, and emphasized the city's potential to capture a significant share of this expanding market.

The government's commitment to boosting the yacht economy includes the implementation of various measures designed to streamline yacht visits, such as easing entry restrictions. Wong also announced the commencement of four new marina projects, situated at the airport, Lamma Island, Aberdeen, and Hung Hom, which collectively will add more than 1,100 berths, marking a 30 percent increase from the current total.

Wong stressed the mutual benefits of this scheme, noting that it could serve as a "win-win-win" scenario, fostering economic development for both Hong Kong residents and visitors, as well as residents and visitors from Guangdong. He expressed gratitude to the central government and relevant authorities in both Hong Kong and Guangdong for their support in implementing the travel scheme.