Hong Kong’s own Saint-Tropez? Construction of marinas for yacht tourism could take five years, says tycoon

Hong Kong may need as many as five years to develop a full waterfront infrastructure and must overcome a mooring shortage if it wants to become a hub for yacht tourism, a real estate and entertainment magnate has said.

Lan Kwai Fong Group Chairman Allan Zeman outlined his vision after CEO John Lee Ka-chiu announced plans to promote yacht tourism and expand a large number of moorings in his recent policy speech.

Zeman said authorities need to improve waterfront entertainment to make the city attractive enough.

“You need to build marinas with restaurants and maybe clubs and bars like in Europe, Saint-Tropez… they attract a lot of good yachts there,” he said. “(The facilities) would probably take four or five years to plan properly, if you plan a few at a time.”

After announcing the policy speech, Development Minister Bernadette Linn Hon-ho clarified the authorities’ ambitions beyond recreational boating routes for visitors.

The government wanted to provide additional mooring facilities to stimulate expensive expenditure, such as the purchase and sale of yachts, and to make it easier for foreign visitors to sail directly to the city for tourism.