Yacht owners report challenges with new Hong Kong-Zhuhai cross-border scheme

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In June, mainland Chinese authorities launched the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau individual yacht scheme to allow eligible vessels from Hong Kong and Macau to enter designated Guangdong waters for tourism. Recently, 139 participants aboard 16 yachts sailed from Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai to test the new cross-border policy. Retired harbour pilot Alex Yu Chi-leung reported that the experience was hindered by shallow waters and bureaucratic procedures he described as numerous, complicated, and ambiguous.

Consequences

Participants may opt to avoid the cross-border scheme in favor of domestic sailing or commercial transport if the current procedural requirements are not simplified. The future viability of the yachting initiative depends on whether authorities address these logistical hurdles to improve the user experience.

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