Maiden voyage of southbound yachts from Guangdong realises two-way navigation for Guangdong-Hong Kong individual yacht travel (with photos)
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In his speech at the ceremony, the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said that Hong Kong is actively developing into a yachting hub in Asia. He noted that the global yacht market has continued to grow in recent years, with the luxury yacht market in particular experiencing significant expansion. He added that the market value of the superyacht industry is projected to reach approximately $350 billion by 2032, representing a massive scale. He believed that Hong Kong has the potential, capability, and strength to secure a share of this market.
He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is proactively implementing various measures to promote the yacht economy, including the three measures introduced by the Marine Department in June to facilitate yachts to visit Hong Kong. He also mentioned that The Festival of Connoisseurs, an international flagship exhibition focusing on superyachts and premium lifestyles, will be held in Hong Kong in early November. He added that the Government is fully committed to promoting the construction of four new yacht clubs at the airport, Lamma Island, Aberdeen, and Hung Hom respectively, which will provide a total of more than 1 100 berths and four highly attractive new clubhouse facilities. It is expected that these facilities will significantly enhance and improve Hong Kong's infrastructure and ecosystem in the yachting economy.
Following the launch of northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong in June this year, and the signing of the relevant work arrangements between Guangdong and Hong Kong in September to establish an institutionalised mechanism for cross-boundary individual yacht travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Governments of the two places have further implemented the southbound travel of yachts from Guangdong, enabling yacht owners in Guangdong to handle cross-boundary procedures more conveniently, thereby promoting greater connectivity between the two places in cross-boundary navigation networks and the marine leisure industry.
Under the framework of the southbound travel of yachts from Guangdong, all Guangdong-registered yachts that meet the requirements of a navigation range of up to 20 nautical miles offshore and a wave resistance capability of not less than 2 metres may apply to visit Hong Kong. Yacht owners/masters intending to travel southbound may complete the procedures online in advance and must complete the relevant Chinese Mainland departure inspection formalities at the six designated control points (namely the Nansha Ferry Terminal in Guangzhou, Shekou Cruise Homeport in Shenzhen, Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal, Jiuzhou Port Passenger Terminal in Zhuhai, Wanshan Port in Zhuhai, and Sunsea Yacht Club Marina, Zhongshan Port).
The Marine Department launched three facilitation measures in June, which include enhancing the Electronic Business System to allow one-stop online completion of arrival and port formalities, setting up designated anchorage areas and relaxing the requirements of booking a berth at a yacht club before arriving in Hong Kong, as well as authorising Chinese Mainland institutions to conduct the Hong Kong Waters Local Knowledge Examination and provide training for yacht masters prior to arrival in Hong Kong. These facilitation measures also apply to overseas yachts. Owners/masters of visiting yachts may apply through the Electronic Business System for Permission to Navigate in Hong Kong Waters as early as 30 days before arrival, and book an anchoring location. Details of the procedures and relevant information for Guangdong-registered yachts travelling southbound to Hong Kong are set out in the Appendix.
The Marine Department has authorised two Mainland examination centres to conduct the Hong Kong Waters Local Knowledge Examination, and has approved seven Mainland training institutions to offer recognised training courses. To date, the department received an enthusiastic response with nearly 300 people having already obtained the relevant qualification. The Marine Department will also recognise online short-term training courses organised by local professional training and examination institutions in order to facilitate masters of visiting yachts in obtaining the qualification to navigate in Hong Kong waters while overseas.
The implementation of the southbound travel of yachts from Guangdong and the relevant cross-boundary facilitation measures for yachts will help attract more yachts from the Greater Bay Area and around the world to visit Hong Kong, injecting new impetus into the tourism industry and the yacht market, bringing new growth opportunities and driving the development of related industries. The Government will continue to monitor the development of visiting yachts and make timely adjustments to the implementation of the various facilitation measures.
Ends/Friday, October 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:55
Issued at HKT 19:55
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