Dear Members,

It has been a busy and fruitful week for the Association with meetings with, HK Based Consultants regarding the proposed new typhon shelters, with the Chief Executives Policy Office, with the HKSAR Marine Department, the ICOMIA, International Council Of Marine Industry Associations, Asia working group meeting, the HK Boating Forum and the Boat Show networking Cocktail gathering. 

At the meetings with Government the HKBIA was accompanied by Joe Lynch, the CEO of ICOMIA,  and Su Lin Cheah, the ICOMIA Asia Representative, who gave the Policy Unit fresh and informative information, from a global point of view, of the Associations vision for the future of not just HK Waters but also on the Greater Bay Archipelago area.

The Association wishes to make the Members aware of some of the actions that are taking place and some proposals that are planned.

The tender for the build of the new Sea Wall of the expanded Aberdeen South Typhoon Shelter has been issued.

 

 

MarDep are in discussions with the Mainland over greater ease of HK Pleasure Vessels having easier access to cruise in Greater Bay Archipelago waters. This area has over 1000 islands and 24 Marinas to visit. Although the full details are yet to be released we have been advised that the proposal is that HK registered pleasure vessels can apply for a "passport" so as to be able to visit the Mainland. Each boat will need to have AIS, Radio and Life Raft. The boat will need to be surveyed and there will be some areas where the boat will not be allowed to sail.

 

 

MarDep are concerned regarding the "safety culture" of local vessels and are working on providing a manual to assist boat owners and crew on planned safety procedures. It is hoped that safety on board can be enhanced and a records kept on board of the safety procedures adhered to.  MarDep have been in consultation with Insurance Companies who have indicated that for full compliance with a new safety culture on board a discount may be possible on insurance premiums. 

MarDep are setting up 5 specific pleasure craft anchorage areas in Stanley, Tai Tam, Repulse Bay, Tai O and Tai Po. At present overseas visiting yachts must have a berthing location arranged, say with a marina, before they are allowed to enter HK waters. They will now be able to moor at one of the designated anchorages to arrange inward clearance. As now, all vessels must use show insurance cover for the vessel, have their AIS and VHF switched on during their visit to HK Waters.

MarDep are considering have visiting yacht Captains conduct a short "local Knowledge" course before issuing the vessel a permit o cruise.  With this visiting vessel will be able to cruise and anchor anywhere in HK Waters. They are also examining the vessel being able to use it's own tender.

Through our consultancy contacts we learned that the tender had been issued for the new breakwater at Aberdeen Typhoon South. 

The Association had a fruitful discussion with the CE's Policy unit, where the ICOMIA representatives advised them on how visiting yachts, marinas, cruising grounds were organised elsewhere in the world. Government was also advised that Asia should not try to be similar to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean but to have it's own cultural identity rather than be a direct copy. Med based boats are slowly learning that there are really good cruising grounds in Asia. They just need to be informed more of the advantages of cruising in our area.

The message from both government departments is that they are open to suggestions from the industry. As such the HKBIA would like our members to advise of anything that members feel should be brought up with the two departments. It is our intention to collate these suggestions together, along with a solution to the suggestion so that we can be proactive and assist them with answers, and send these to the two departments by the end of the year.  Some ideas that have been suggested so far is that the HK Ships Registry become more open to registering Superyachts. When changing flags on the sale of a vessel the vessel can stay in HK Waters instead of having to leave and come back again. MarDep should actively plan for more sheltered mooring areas rather that their old standby of repeating that there is enough sheltered water space for local vessels. We have all seen how their plan for opening up Hei Ling Chau for moorings has failed dismally. So please, if you have anything that you wish to see brought up with Government, please let the HKBIA know in the next week or two.

The HK Boating Forum, held at the RHKYC, was a great success, with lots of ideas brought forward by the panelist's for how our industry can grow in the future.

Presentations from the Forum can be accessed from the following link:

DIRECT LINK

 

And finally thanks to those who were able to join the Boat Show Cocktails, we hope you had a good boat show and we wish you the compliments of the season.

Photos from the events can be accessed from the following link:

DIRECT LINK

Yours sincerely,

Lawrence Chow

Dear Members,

Typhoon Ragasa is approaching  with forecast to hit on Tuesday or Wednesday. For your safety and to protect your boat, please;

1. Ensure your mooring lines and shackles do not have any signs of wear or damage.

2. Tie your boat securely for the severe typhoon conditions. 

3. Check your batteries onboard are charged and bilge pumps are fully functioning.

4. Stow all loose items.

5. Keep an eye on local weather forecasts for any changes or updates and plan accordingly. 

If needed, please seek shelter at the various yacht clubs in Hong Kong or seek shelter in designated typhoon shelters.

Yours sincerely,

Lawrence Chow

Chairman

HKBIA (Hong Kong Boating Industry Association), co-organized the Yachting Tourism and Yachting Economy Roundtable with the BPA (Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong) and CRECCHKI (China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and International Chapter Limited) at the Legislative Council Complex on August 16, 2025.

Ms. Rosanna Law (JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism), Dr. Peter Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), Hon. Lo Wai Kwok (Chairman of Business and Professional Alliance for Hong Kong) along with several industry professionals attended the event to discuss the development of yacht tourism in Hong Kong and the positive impact it could have on the local economy.

 

HKBIA extends thanks to members that participated and those that were part of the panels:

• Dr. Johnnie Chan Chi Kau, SBS, BBS, JP, Vice Chairman, HK Water Sports Council
• Adrian Pang, Commodore, RHKYC
• ⁠⁠Carmen Lau, Senior Advisor, Camper & Nicholsons
• Joe Yuen, Hon. Treasurer & Co-founder, Asia Pacific Superyacht Association
• Martin Lo, Director, Cheoy Lee Shipyards 
• Martin Lee, Executive Director of HKRI

The event was covered by several media sources, linked below:

Now News: 政府擬發展遊艇旅遊　經民聯倡簡化遊艇出入境安排 (Video)

HK01 News: 遊艇旅遊丨經民聯倡簡化入境安排　業界稱泊位少令高增值旅客卻步

Yahoo News: 本地遊新招｜羅淑佩：擬速推海岸及海島遊 放寬垂釣及增遊艇泊位 (Video)

DotDotNews: 上岸消費助促新商機　羅淑佩指遊艇旅遊項目應貼近市場需要

SingTao News: 遊艇旅遊｜羅淑佩：支持粵港澳大灣區遊艇旅遊發展 發揮香港「一程多站」角色

i-cable: 政府擬推遊艇旅遊吸高增值客　料提供600個泊位　林建岳：有巨大潛力成國際目的地 (Video)

Commercial Radio HK (CRHK): 羅淑佩：本港具備天然資源發展遊艇旅遊

Line Today HK: 羅淑佩：本港具備天然資源發展遊艇旅遊

RTHK News: Full amenities 'will help yachters set sail for HK'

Dear Members,

The Hong Kong Government has embarked on a mission to develop the marine economy. Various bureaus and departments are introducing supporting policies, facilities and other initiatives.

The HKBIA and RHKYC held a workshop/meeting on the 19th June 2025 at RHKYC Kellet Island, in order to discuss and gather ideas to identify a key strategy/plan for marine development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

The HKBIA will be hosting another Boating Yachting and Tourism Workshop/Update in early September 2025. Invitations  will be sent to all HKBIA members.

Meeting Minutes and Meeting Presentation can be accessed from the following link:

Final_Meeting Minutes Feedback.pdf

20250619_HKBIA BYT Presentation.pdf

Lawrence Chow

Chairman

HKBIA

Hong Kong seeks to turn To Kwa Wan waterfront into tourism hotspot channelling Sydney’s Darling Harbour

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said that the harbourfront development, which he dubbed the “Victoria Cove Area,” would also draw inspiration from the Aker Brygge promenade in Oslo.

Hong Kong’s urban redevelopment body is looking into redeveloping a Victoria Harbour waterfront area in eastern Kowloon into a tourism cove with restaurants and outdoor music venues.

In a blog post on Sunday, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said that the authority had begun a study on the possibility of developing To Kwa Wan into a world-class harbourfront development, which he dubbed the “Victoria Cove Area.”

Above: Sydney Cove. A 'Victoria Cove' would be a good place for a boat show!

Wai added that proposals for the waterfront development would have to comply with regulatory and licensing regimes, and would require technical impact assessments and consultations with stakeholders such as the government and barge operators.

Watersports should not interfere with shipping routes, and restaurants must have the appropriate licenses, he said.

A consultant has begun discussions with various government departments and is expected to submit a preliminary report and feasibility study to the URA in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, recent legislative amendments loosening rules for creating new land through reclamation could make the development process easier, Wai said.

A map showing the study area for the To Kwa Wan development. Photo: URA.

On May 7, the Legislative Council passed a law making it easier for the government to create new land through reclamation in Victoria Harbour – despite objections from environmental activists.

The Development Bureau said it would allow fast-tracking smaller reclamation works measuring 0.8 hectares or less and would “enhance harbourfront areas for public enjoyment.”

The Hong Kong International Boat Show and

          Marine Equipment and Service

Club Marina Cove are pleased to announce the above event 4-7 December 2025. .

"This year will include more on the marine equipment, with the latest technology and other services such as shipyard and on-board management ..etc."

Details and Application form will be emailed by request on or before 30 June.

Winnie Ng, General Manager. cmcltd@netvigator.com

Presented by ASIA-PACIFIC SUPERYACHT ASSOCIATION and HONG KONG BOATING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, 08 May 2025

A night to remember at the Regatta Rooms, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. With many thanks to our valued sponsors: Fema Marine, Superyacht Times, Maritime Cook Islands, Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Cowie & Co, and YachtEye

For a full album of photographs, please go to https://www.guynowell.com/-/galleries/hk-superyacht-night 

 

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) said last Sunday (11 May) that it has launched a study on the creation of a "Victoria Cove Area" east of Hung Hom, which would transform part of the Victoria Harbour shoreline into an integrated area for entertainment, homes and business. The area covers nearly 800 hectares of land and sea, stretching from Hung Hom to Kwun Tong.

Last week, Legco passed legal changes lifting a general reclamation ban in Victoria Harbour. The authority's managing director, Wai Chi-sing, said that created the conditions for developing what he described as a world-class cove area along the To Kwa Wan waterfront, which would be comparable to the likes of Darling Harbour in Sydney. "It is absolutely possible to become the first cove area in Hong Kong that integrates leisure and entertainment, tourism, commercial and residential plots," Wai wrote on his blog. He noted that the Development Bureau has pushed for reclamation works in To Kwa Wan that would connect parts of the waterfront, improving accessibility to the shoreline. Wai said the URA's study would also look at water-based leisure activities for the area. He said there are a number of government sites in To Kwa Wan that are not fully utilised, such as temporary car parks and the Cattle Depot Artist Village.

Dear Members,

Coxswains and engine operators (collectively referred to as “operators”) are responsible for operating local vessels whose work is essential for maritime safety. To ensure that operators are qualified to perform the duties concerned, the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Certification and Licensing) Regulation (Cap. 548D) requires all local vessel operators to hold local CoCs. Local CoCs are issued by the Director of Marine. 

Currently, applicants for local CoCs are not required to undergo any medical examination unless they are applying for a coxswain certificate1 . Once issued, a local CoC will remain valid until the holder reaches the age of 65. 

When a holder of local CoC reaches the age of 65, he may apply to the Director of Marine for an extension of its validity period for three years. The validity period of a local CoC will be one year once the holder turns 71. Holders of local CoC (including coxswains and engine operators) are required to notify the Director of Marine as soon as possible if they suffer from any physical or other disabilities which render them incapable of performing their duties on board a vessel. 

To enhance maritime safety, the Marine Department (“MD”) revise the eligibility criteria for applying for or revalidating local CoCs by introducing a medical fitness certificate requirement to ensure that holders of local CoCs are physically fit to operate vessels. To ensure maritime safety while balancing the operational needs of the industry, the medical fitness certificate requirement will follow a two-tier system: Tier 1 covers all new applicants for the issuance of any level of local CoCs and applicants for revalidation of their CoCs; Tier 2 only covers persons operating specific categories of vessels such as those carrying passengers (i.e. Class I vessels) and those carrying dangerous goods (i.e. Class II vessels) (collectively referred to as “high-risk vessels”). 
 
Tier 1 - All new and revalidation applications for local CoCs
All applicants for issuance of new local CoCs and revalidation of existing local CoCs are required to submit to MD a medical fitness certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner recognised by MD (“recognised medical practitioner”) together with the application form. Once a local CoC is issued or revalidated, the holder is not required to undergo another medical assessment during its validity period (except for persons operating high-risk vessels). In other words, holders of local CoCs who wish to revalidate their certificates after reaching the age of 65 will have to undergo a medical assessment every three years. After reaching the age of 71, a holder must undergo and pass a medical assessment every year in order to revalidate his/her certificate. 

Tier 2 - Persons operating high-risk vessels 
Considering the relatively higher maritime safety risks associated with operation of high-risk vessels, persons operating high-risk vessels are required to undergo a medical assessment once every five years to ensure that their physical condition is suitable for operating the relevant vessels. MD will specify an additional condition in the Operating Licence of highrisk vessels, stating that operators must possess a valid medical fitness certificate. If the conditions attached to an Operating Licence are breached, both the shipowner and the coxswain concerned shall commit an offence. 

To ensure that medical practitioners responsible for conducting medical assessments fully understand the shipboard duties of local crew, MD has been inviting registered medical practitioners to register as recognised medical practitioners through various medical groups and professional associations, as well as medical service providers, etc., since December last year to provide medical assessment services and issue medical fitness certificates to applicants/holders of CoCs. MD will provide recognised medical practitioners with relevant information on the general duties and physical requirements of local crew. As of May 2025, 86 registered medical practitioners have registered as recognised medical practitioners. MD will continue to encourage registered medical practitioners to sign up and maintain an updated list of recognised medical practitioners on its website for the industry’s reference. 


MD will amend the “Examination Rules for Local Certificates of Competency” and the “Examination Rules for Pleasure Vessel Operator Certificate of Competency” to update the qualifications for applying for and revalidating local CoCs by introducing the requirement to provide a medical fitness certificate; and include relevant terms when issuing or revalidating the Operating Licences of high-risk vessels to enforce the Tier 2 medical fitness certificate requirement on high-risk vessels. MD will implement the new arrangement in June 2025 and inform the public of the relevant measures through Marine Department Notices.

船隻操作員的身體狀況對確保香港水域使用者的安全十分重要。即使在風險相對較低的遮敝水域，對船長在緊急情況下仍有特殊的要求，以保障船上人員安全。

現時，對於申請本地合格證明書申請人士的健康要求，只限於通過海事處主考人員“目測”及醫療專業人員進行的視力測驗。本地合格證明書發出後其有效期至年屆65歲時期滿，在有效期內不需進行健康檢查或評估。在65歲期滿時只需進行視力測驗以延展其本地合格證明書。如年齡少於71歲，每次申請延展3年。如71歲或以上，則每次申請可延展1年。另外，獲准載客超過100人的第I類則船隻船長的僱主，必須為船長安排定期體格檢驗。

為確保船隻掌管人個人適合其需負責的工作，同時考慮與海上工作相關的特殊風險，體格檢驗是這個過程中的關鍵要素，本處聘請了醫療顧問和專家，制定了一套適合本地合格證明書申請人／持有人的醫療評估準則和有關標準。包括，健康評估表和健康評估指引分別列載於附件，以協助認可醫生對本地合格證明書申請人／持有人的健康狀況就是否適合操作船隻進行評估。而在釐訂健康標準時採用了以風險為本的方法，確保本地船員的健康狀況適合履行其職責。
 

有關制度最先會在兩個目標群組施行，第一組涉及所有新申請簽發任何級別本地合格證明書和申請為其合格證明書續期的人士。第二組屬主管高風險船隻（即包括：載客船隻；及石油／氣體運輸船）操作的船長及輪機操作員，須定期進行健康檢查。

第一目標群組

當申請新的本地合格證明書或為已持有的本地合格證明書續期時，申請人須提交由海事處認可醫生簽發的健康證明書。

如申請被接納，會獲簽發本地合格證明書或為其證明書續期，有關持證人在證明書的有效期間內不再需要進行健康檢查，但需操作高風險船隻人士除外。而已遞交的健康證明書的有效日期會登記在海事處的系統內，並能經網上電子證書核證系統查核本地合格證明書時顯示。

第二目標群組
所有操作高風險船隻人士（即的船長及輪機操作員）須每隔五年獲取健康證明書。

高風險船隻的運作牌照上將附加條件以執行健康要求，牌照的附加條件會列明操作高風險船隻人士須持有有效的健康證明書及該證明書須向海事處提交作記錄。海事處會通知高風險船隻的船東有關的運作牌照上附加條件的安排。海事處會在日常和特別巡邏時對高風險船隻上人士檢查健康證明書以監察執行情況。

本處因應去年十月已完成的健康評估試行結果，並根據參與者的意見，優化整體健康評估表使流程更暢順。

目前已有76位獲承認的註册醫生登記在方案的認可醫生名單內為申請人提供服務。當方案會在2025年5月6日舉行的經濟發展事務委員會中對本地合格證明書申請人／持有人實施健康證明要求徵詢委員意見，之後，便可作推廣，預計在2025年6月16日提供健康證明書要求便開始實施，而有關的健康證明要求將會在修訂後的考試規則反映，屆時亦會出版海事處佈告通知公眾。

本處亦編製了宣傳單張供貴公司員工閱覽。

為使新要求能順利實施，如需本處派代表到貴會就方案再作簡介及向會員解答疑問，可與本人聯絡安排。

鑑於認可醫生名單的76位醫生中不清楚有沒有貴會會員常用的醫生，為方便貴會會員們，如貴會會員常用的醫生能提供服務，可給我他們的聯絡電郵，以便本處邀請他們參與本計劃。

如有任何問題歡迎與我聯絡。

List of RRMP.pdf

Medical Assessment Form (MD 818).pdf

健康評估 - 宣傳單張.pdf

附件 -Medical Assessment Form.pdf

附件 -健康評估指引.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Lawrence Chow

Chairman

The invitation for the expressions of interest (EOI) for a marina development at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion area closed today, April 24, 2025, with the Development Bureau receiving eight submissions.
 
The organisations making the submissions include local and overseas developers, hotel/entertainment groups and marina developers/operators.
 
The bureau said it will consolidate and analyse the collected feedback to firm up the development parameters and requirements within this year for undertaking various technical assessments and statutory procedures.
 
It added that under the established approach, the development is anticipated for tendering in 2027. Alternatively, if a feasible market proposal is brought forward during the EOI exercise to speed up the process, the bureau will actively consider an earlier tender time.
 
An initiative for promoting yacht tourism, with plans to invite the market to construct and operate marinas at three locations, including the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter expansion area, was announced in the 2024 Policy Address.
 
The Government plans to seek the Legislative Council’s funding approval next year to expand the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter to increase sheltered space for public mooring under the Public Works Programme.
 
By seizing this opportunity, the Government hopes to utilise part of the expanded waterbody for the market to develop the marina and better leverage market forces to promote yacht tourism.