LCQ1: Promoting Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel
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Question:
Regarding the Chief Executive's proposal in the 2025 Policy Address to develop the yacht economy and to discuss with the Guangdong Provincial Government measures to facilitate Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the specific progress made by the Government over the past year in co-ordinating with the Guangdong Provincial Government on the implementation plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel; and the timetable for signing the "Work Arrangement for Entry and Exit of Hong Kong Yachts into Guangdong" with Guangdong Province;
(2) of the control points in Hong Kong to be designated to interface with the first batch of six immigration checkpoints for yachts in Guangdong Province; and the functions and division of roles of the existing and future new yacht berths in Hong Kong in individual yacht travel within the Greater Bay Area; and
(3) given that Guangdong Province is striving to establish a complete yacht industry chain integrating research and development, design, production and manufacturing as well as repair and maintenance by 2027, and that repair costs in the Mainland are relatively low, there has been a growing trend in Hong Kong for yachts to go north for repairs, how the Government will secure a differentiated position for Hong Kong in the yacht industry chain of the Greater Bay Area, in particular whether it will further extend the scope of individual yacht travel to include international yachts transiting through Hong Kong, so as to give full play to Hong Kong's strengths as a free port and international hub, and further promote it to become Asia's yacht hub?
Reply:
President,
Overseas yachts have always enjoyed the freedom to visit Hong Kong. Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have been committed to promoting individual yacht travel. To this end, the Marine Department (MD), the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration (GDMSA), and the Macao Marine and Water Bureau have established the tripartite Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel working group (the working group). The working group is tasked with discussing facilitation measures for the northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong and southbound travel for yachts from the Chinese Mainland.
In consultation with the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Development Bureau, our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chu Lap-wai is as follows:
(1) Following the first meeting of the working group in April 2025, the MD and the GDMSA have conducted multiple meetings to actively discuss and draft the work arrangements for the northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong, including vessel safety requirements, qualifications of applicants and masters, and system arrangements.
Concurrently, building upon this co-operation mechanism, the MD has also been co-ordinating with the GDMSA on the arrangement for southbound travel for yachts from the Chinese Mainland. The relevant work arrangements require consultation with government departments from both sides, and the details will be announced in due course once finalised.
(2) According to the requirements of the Guangdong Province, Hong Kong yachts entering or leaving Guangdong waters must pass through designated ports. Since the 1980s, yachts visiting Hong Kong have no longer been required to go through designated ports or anchorages for immigration clearance and examination. The master of a visiting yacht or the representative (acting as the person-in-charge of the passengers and crew members on board) only needs to present the relevant travel documents and necessary documents at the Port Control Section of the ImmD at the Central Government Pier within 24 hours after entering Hong Kong waters (meaning the yacht could first sail directly to its destination) and within 24 hours prior to leaving Hong Kong waters to complete immigration examinations. During this period, passengers and crew members are not required to remain on board. This arrangement will continue to be applicable for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel.
In addition, the owner or master (or their agent) of a visiting yacht must submit a "Pre-arrival Notification" to the MD via the Electronic Business System, email or fax 24 hours prior to arrival to apply for permission for the vessel to enter Hong Kong waters, and must report the vessel's arrival at any Marine Office within 24 hours after arrival. For departure, they only need to apply for a port clearance within 72 hours prior to leaving, without the need to go through designated ports for clearance procedures.
In 2016, the ImmD further relaxed the conditions of stay for crew members of visiting yachts. Nationals of visa-free countries or residents of Macao may be permitted to remain in Hong Kong for a period up to 90 days or until the yacht concerned departs Hong Kong, whichever is earlier, subject to the normal immigration requirements being met. With the enhancement of the Electronic Business System of the MD nearing completion by June this year, visiting yachts will be able to submit crew and passenger information via a one-stop online platform by then for the ImmD to pre-screen such information, thereby streamlining the procedures.
Apart from setting up five designated anchorage areas for visiting yachts, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is pro-actively pressing ahead the development of yacht berthing facilities projects including the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion area, the ex-Lamma Quarry area and the Hung Hom station waterfront. The Airport Authority Hong Kong is also attracting investment for the Airport City development plan "SKYTOPIA" to develop Hong Kong's largest Airport Yacht Bay, which could provide over 500 berths in order to attract yachts including superyachts to visit Hong Kong.
(3) In addition to the above immigration facilitation measures, the Government has announced a series of facilitation measures in the 2025 Policy Address, which the MD will roll out in June this year, including:
(i) relaxing the requirements for visiting yachts and developing a Dynamic Yacht Monitoring System, allowing visiting yachts to navigate and anchor at designated waters, without having to reserve berths at privately-operated yacht clubs or piers;
(ii) enhancing the Electronic Business System to allow visiting yachts to submit information in advance; and
(iii) authorising relevant Chinese Mainland organisations to conduct examinations for yacht masters from the Chinese Mainland, and offer short-term training courses to facilitate them to obtain qualifications for navigation in Hong Kong waters.
We believe that the above facilitation measures could attract yachts not only from the Greater Bay Area, but also from around the world to visit Hong Kong, thereby creating new opportunities for the local yacht economy and related ancillary industries. As a port city, Hong Kong has always welcomed all types of international merchant vessels and yachts. As for the arrangement to transit through Hong Kong to Chinese Mainland ports, it requires approval from the relevant Chinse Mainland authorities. We will explore with the Chinese Mainland authorities on the relevant mechanism.
Preparations between Guangdong and Hong Kong for the northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong and southbound travel for yachts from the Chinese Mainland initiatives are making positive progress. The Government will continuously review and refine these facilitation measures, whilst maintaining close co-operation with relevant Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong authorities, in order to foster a healthy, sustainable and competitive environment for the development of the local yacht economy.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:50
Issued at HKT 14:50
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