A Citizen's Perspective - NI HKG

1. The Hong Kong Government this month - belatedly – acknowledged the need for a

fundamental review of policy and management issues relating to vessel berthing space.

The review will commence in September 2013 and is intended to explore solutions for

better management of berthing spaces for local vessels and the challenges faced by the

Marine Department. The marine industry wants this review to include the supply of

berthing spaces. There is a dramatic shortfall of over 20,000 berthing facilities for vessels

used for leisure, recreation and sports. A champion is needed within government to

ensure waterfront land and seabed is set aside to address this shortfall, someone who can

develop policy, safeguard waterfront land and obtain funding to build public piers and

public marine centres.

2. The Government is starting to recognize that the composition of the population of local

vessels has changed dramatically. In 1997 there were 13,901 registered vessels, of which

7,274 (52%) were Class IV pleasure vessels and Class III outboard open sampans, small

boats primarily used for recreational line fishing. Last year, this figure has risen to 11,183

(72%) out of 15,463. This excludes the estimated 3,000 sailing and rowing craft without

an engine which do not require registration with the Marine Department.

3. These 14,183 vessels used for leisure, recreation and sports demand very different

berthing facilities compared with commercial fishing and working boats which, with their

permanent crew, can safely use anchorage areas. Small recreational vessels are best stored

on-shore in racks or berthed in sheltered water alongside pontoons. At a minimum they

are tethered fore and aft to secure moorings in sheltered water so are kept out of harm’s

way, and so that they can be insured. And this is where the problem lies.

4. Aside from naturally protected waters like Port Shelter in Sai Kung, Government has

created typhoon proof shelters by placing break waters around bays. Although

theoretically Hong Kong has sufficient typhoon shelters for local and visiting vessels

during inclement weather, they are primarily designed as big-vessel anchorages and they

are not always situated close to the waters used for recreation - or even easily accessible

over land. Within these protected waters, there are only 3,230 wet moorings (2,280 berths

under the management of private marinas and clubs, and 950 moorings leased out by the

Marine Department). Together with the estimated 800 dry berths located on land there are

only 4,000 berths in Hong Kong.

5. This shortfall of over 10,000 berths has led to people creating illegal moorings which are

rented out at extortionate rates. Small boat owners who can’t afford these expensive sub-

lets or a membership of a private marina, or are unwilling to sit out the long waiting lists,

leave their boats exposed to the risk of damage, lack of insurance cover and the wrath of

Government. You don’t have to look far to find sampans and small cruisers tied to rocks,

pulled out under trees unlawfully occupying Government land, roped together in

anchorages or at the end of illegal moorings.

6. Two studies have identified a latent demand of over 10,000 would-be boat owners,

deterred by the lack of mooring facilities. A Dutch business consultancy studied income

thresholds for boat ownership in different markets, and concluded that recreational boat