Proposed harbour law changes to benefit Hong Kong’s private yacht projects

Yacht bays proposed for Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour could be the first private projects to benefit from new legislation facilitating small-scale reclamation, expected to be passed on Wednesday, according to a watchdog and a surveyor.

However, the amended law, which exempts small projects from the reclamation ban in Victoria Harbour, has also sparked concerns about the potential privatisation of natural resources amid calls for authorities to ensure public access.

The current legal framework forbids any reclamation in the harbour unless it is proven to have an “overriding public need” supported by “cogent and convincing materials”. The government deemed this too stringent for minor works intended to enhance the waterfront.

The Development Bureau’s proposed legal changes would allow small-scale reclamation of 0.8 hectares or less, including for erecting specified structures designed to enhance the harbour, such as piers, boardwalks, and moorings.

However, such projects would require approval from the Financial Secretary following consultation with the government-appointed Harbourfront Commission advisory body and district councillors.

The legal amendments would also permit temporary reclamation not exceeding three hectares, with a seven-year completion time frame, subject to stakeholder consultation and government approval, and the submission of an annual progress report.