LCQ17: Berthing spaces for yachts and other vessels
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Question:
Some vessel owners have indicated that in recent years, the number of yachts has been growing but berthing spaces for yachts are in short supply and charges for their use are high. As a result, more and more yachts berth at typhoon shelters, which are free of charge, thereby aggravating the problem of insufficient berthing spaces at typhoon shelters. Moreover, as there are a number of major infrastructure projects underway in Hong Kong at present, quite a number of vessels are working at sea. Such vessel owners are worried that there will not be sufficient berthing spaces at typhoon shelters for various types of vessels during typhoons and inclement weather in Hong Kong, endangering the safety of vessels and marine workers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of (i) the total number of yachts registered and (ii) the number of yachts newly registered, in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by length of yacht (i.e. 35 feet or below, from 36 feet to 60 feet, from 61 feet to 99 feet, and 100 feet or above);
(2) whether it knows the existing demand for and supply of berthing spaces for yachts; if so, set out such information by district;
(3) whether it will demarcate, in various typhoon shelters, berthing areas dedicated for yachts and other vessels respectively; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) whether the Government has plans, apart from the plan to provide additional berthing spaces for yachts in Tung Chung, to provide additional berthing spaces for yachts in other districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and the measures in place to mitigate the problem of insufficient berthing spaces at typhoon shelters; and
(5) as some vessel owners have relayed to me that at present, some people use floating bridges to occupy the berthing spaces at typhoon shelters and release, upon collection of fees from yachts searching for berthing spaces, the occupied spaces for such yachts to berth, which is an act of profiteering from public facilities and is against the original purpose of typhoon shelters to provide sheltered spaces for vessels to take refuge during typhoons and inclement weather in Hong Kong, whether the Government has measures in place to curb such an act; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and the measures in place to prevent the proliferation of the abusive use of berthing spaces at typhoon shelters?
Reply:
President,
Government seeks to provide enough sheltered space within the Hong Kong waters for local vessels to take refuge during typhoons or inclement weather to safeguard vessels and their crew members. Sheltered space includes gazetted typhoon shelters, sheltered anchorages and berthing facilities in marinas. Marine Department (MD) conducts periodic assessment of the demand and supply of sheltered space in Hong Kong to ensure sufficient supply of sheltered space for local vessels.
My reply to Hon Frankie Yick's question is as follows:
(1) The numbers of licensed and newly licensed Class IV vessels (i.e. pleasure vessels (PVs)) in the past five years are set out in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively.
| Table 1: Number of Licensed Class IV Vessels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 35 feet or below | Exceeding 35 feet to 60 feet | Exceeding 60 feet to 100 feet | Exceeding 100 feet | Total |
| 2012 | 5 667 | 1 619 | 595 | 39 | 7 920 |
| 2013 | 6 147 | 1 677 | 627 | 40 | 8 491 |
| 2014 | 6 556 | 1 691 | 662 | 50 | 8 959 |
| 2015 | 6 971 | 1 748 | 681 | 56 | 9 456 |
| 2016 | 7 231 | 1 758 | 704 | 55 | 9 748 |
| Table 2: Number of Newly Licensed Class IV Vessels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 35 feet or below | Exceeding 35 feet to 60 feet | Exceeding 60 feet to 100 feet | Exceeding 100 feet | Total |
| 2012 | 653 | 137 | 64 | 7 | 861 |
| 2013 | 694 | 105 | 59 | 5 | 863 |
| 2014 | 767 | 105 | 46 | 5 | 923 |
| 2015 | 802 | 98 | 50 | 10 | 960 |
| 2016 | 691 | 98 | 58 | 8 | 855 |
(2) According to MD's latest assessment, the overall territory-wide supply of sheltered space from now till 2030 could meet the demand from local vessels (including PVs). Details of the demand and supply of sheltered space in Hong Kong are set out in Table 3.
| Table 3: Demand and Supply of Sheltered Space in Hong Kong | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2017 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 |
| Demand (hectares) | 544.2 | 568.7 | 602.4 | 629.7 |
| Of which: PVs | 225.2 | 250.3 | 282.7 | 306.4 |
| Other Local Vessels | 319.0 | 318.4 | 319.6 | 323.3 |
| Supply (hectares) | 624.3 | 629.5 | 633.1 | 636.4 |
| Variance (hectares) | 80.1 | 60.8 | 30.7 | 6.7 |
Note: Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
(3) and (4) Under existing legislation, all local vessels (including PVs) are allowed to use typhoon shelters. Vessels generally berth at typhoon shelters on a first-come-first-served basis. To ensure that operational vessels can find berthing space in typhoon shelters during typhoons or inclement weather despite increased demand from PVs, MD is considering the possibility of designating a specific area in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter for exclusive mooring of non-PVs through administrative means on a trial basis.
In addition, MD is considering setting temporary private mooring areas at typhoon shelters with lower utilisation rate (i.e. Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter and Yim Tin Tsai Typhoon Shelter) for use by local vessels (including PVs). MD is also considering expanding three existing private mooring areas in Tso Wo Hang, Tai Mei Tuk and Shuen Wan Hoi. These measures would provide about 1 200 additional private moorings in total, which could help alleviate the keen demand for some typhoon shelters.
MD will carry out consultation on the above measures in due course.
(5) According to existing legislation, local vessels can enter and remain in any typhoon shelter at any time. However, they should not obstruct the free access of other vessels to, or their use of, any unoccupied space in the typhoon shelter; otherwise the owner, the agent as well as the coxswain of the vessel concerned can each be liable to a fine of $5,000.
MD will closely monitor the use of typhoon shelters including carrying out patrol to ensure that vessels can enter and leave smoothly and are berthed in an orderly manner. MD will take appropriate actions if any vessel is found to have obstructed the anchoring of other vessels, and refer cases to enforcement departments if anyone is found to have solicited rewards from improper occupation of typhoon shelter spaces. Members of the public may report suspected breaches of law to MD or the Police.
Ends/Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:30
Issued at HKT 14:30
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