News - 消息

On Friday, October 9, 2026, a delegation from the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA) conducted a high-level executive familiarisation visit to Nansha, Guangzhou. Kindly hosted by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Nansha Economic and Technological Development Zone, the delegation explored advanced maritime industrial clusters and engaged in strategic discussions regarding Greater Bay Area (GBA) marine collaboration.

The HKBIA delegation examined the region’s robust marine manufacturing capabilities, technical refitting infrastructure, and premier marina facilities. The itinerary featured key site visits to leading enterprises including Taicheng Ship Industry, Freya, and Yuexin Ocean Engineering, alongside a comprehensive tour of Nansha Marina.

A core focus of the visit was advancing the practical implementation of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Yacht Free-Travel Scheme. During the formal policy symposium, industry leaders and Nansha district authorities held productive dialogues addressing customs clearance efficiencies, inspection frameworks, and cross-boundary operational alignment to foster a seamless regional yachting ecosystem.

The HKBIA remains committed to building robust bridges across the GBA, unlocking new growth horizons for Hong Kong’s leisure marine trade, and strengthening professional partnerships throughout the Pearl River Delta.

Dear Members,

The Commerce Bureau of Nansha District, Guangzhou has invited HKBIA members to the “100 Boat Owners Gather in Nansha” Yacht Carnival, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. Owners are invited to sail to Nansha under the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao yacht free-travel scheme for three days of tours, an industry networking dinner (Nansha Yacht Night) and golf. The organiser arranges accommodation at the Nansha Grand Hotel. HKBIA is one of the supporting organisations.

To take part, please email the reply slip to HKBIA at chair@hongkongbia.com by Monday 12 October 2026. HKBIA will consolidate members’ registrations and submit them to the organiser. The programme, reply slip, official invitation and free-travel guide are all on the event page:

https://hongkongbia.com/event-6854759

各位會員：

廣州市南沙區商務局誠邀本會會員參加於2026年10月30日至11月1日舉行的「百名船東聚南沙」遊艇嘉年華，透過粵港澳遊艇自由行駕駛遊艇前往南沙，參與區內遊覽、「南沙遊艇之夜」行業交流晚宴及高爾夫球體驗。住宿由主辦方於南沙花園酒店統一安排。本會為支持單位之一。

有意參加者，請於2026年10月12日（星期一）前將參加回執電郵至本會 chair@hongkongbia.com，本會將統一整理並提交主辦方。活動安排、參加回執、正式邀請函及自由行指南均可於上述活動網頁下載。

Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Chow
Chair, Hong Kong Boating Industry Association

The English text was prepared with the help of AI translation, for convenience only. If there is any difference between the English and Chinese versions, the Chinese version prevails. 英文內容借助人工智能翻譯，僅供參考；中英文版本如有歧異，概以中文版本為準。

Asia Yachting extends its Fountaine Pajot representation across four key Asian markets, adding Singapore and Thailand to its established presence in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Asia Yachting has strengthened its long-standing partnership with Fountaine Pajot with the expansion of its representation to Singapore and Thailand, creating a four-market network spanning Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The expanded partnership covers Fountaine Pajot Sailing Catamarans and Fountaine Pajot Yachts, further strengthening the brand’s presence and client support across the region.

The partnership expansion to Singapore and Thailand was marked during the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026.
Front row, from left: Kevin Corfa, Head of Fountaine Pajot Asia; Olivier Besson, Founder and CEO of Asia Yachting; Steven Guedeu, Deputy CEO of Fountaine Pajot; and Caroline Sorlut, Deputy Sales Director of Fountaine Pajot, joined by members of the Asia Yachting and Fountaine Pajot teams.

The sailing catamaran range includes the FP41, FP44, FP48, FP51 and FP55, while the Fountaine Pajot Yachts range includes models such as the FPY 59S, FPY 70S and FPY 70, offering clients a broad selection from cruising catamarans to larger luxury multihulls.

The expansion builds on a partnership that has developed steadily over the years. Asia Yachting expanded its Fountaine Pajot representation in Hong Kong to the builder’s motor catamarans in 2021, followed by sailing catamarans in 2023.

Asia Yachting identified early the growing trend of catamarans in Asia, as more yacht owners looked for greater space, comfort and versatility on the water. Since then, the company has sold multiple Fountaine Pajot motor and sailing catamarans, building a proven track record and practical experience in developing the multihull market in Asia.

“We have believed in the potential of catamarans in Asia for many years, and the market has continued to develop in that direction,” said Olivier Besson, Founder and CEO of Asia Yachting. “Through our years of experience with Fountaine Pajot and the luxury yachting market in Asia, we have built a strong understanding of what owners in the region are looking for. Expanding into Singapore and Thailand is a natural next step for our partnership and allows us to bring that experience to an even wider client base.”

With representation now spanning four key Asian yachting markets, the expanded partnership will be supported by the continued development of local sales and after-sales capabilities, together with yacht showcases, client activities and major yachting events across Asia. Asia Yachting and Fountaine Pajot will continue working together to strengthen the brand’s regional presence and provide clients with dedicated sales and after-sales support.

Four markets. One shared vision.

Marine Service Asia Appointed YANMAR Leisure Marine Engine Distributor in Hong Kong

Marine Service Asia Limited (MSA) has been appointed as YANMAR Leisure Marine Engine Distributor in Hong Kong, strengthening local access to YANMAR marine engines and support for sailboat and powerboat owners and marine professionals.

Through the appointment, MSA will represent YANMAR’s leisure marine and light duty commercial engine business in Hong Kong, supported by its existing capabilities in marine engineering, vessel repair and maintenance.

Yoshi Takahashi, Account Manager at YANMAR Marine International, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Marine Service Asia as our Leisure Marine Engine Distributor in Hong Kong. With its established marine engineering capabilities and local service experience, MSA is well positioned to support YANMAR customers in the Hong Kong market.”

Andrew Chan, General Manager of Marine Service Asia, said:

“YANMAR is already a trusted name among boat owners and marine professionals in Hong Kong, and we are very pleased to add the brand to MSA’s portfolio. This appointment allows us to provide customers with a reliable local source for YANMAR marine engines, backed by the technical expertise and after-sales support of our team.”

The appointment marks an important step in MSA’s continued development as a full-service marine care company, combining engineering, repair and maintenance capabilities with an expanding portfolio of leading marine products.

 

For enquiries:

Marine Service Asia Limited

info@marineserviceasia.com

+852 3596 2054

Dear Members,

On 11 August 2026, HKBIA took part in 「穑港協同 打造灣區遊艇生活圓」研討活動 – “Guangzhou–Hong Kong Synergy: Building a Bay Area Yachting Ecosystem” – the 18th session of the 「粽港月講」 (Yue-Gang Monthly Talk) series organised by the Guangzhou Nansha Guangdong–Hong Kong Cooperation Consultative Committee (廣州南沙粽港合作謝詢委員會), held here in Hong Kong.

The round table discussion. HKBIA Chairman Lawrence Chow, second from right.

Chairman Lawrence Chow joined the round table discussion alongside Mr C Y Leung, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and Adviser to the Committee; Mr Zhu Yuanbing of the Guangzhou Institute of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area; Mr Peng Xiaoshu, Vice Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and a member of the Marine Department advisory sub-committee; and Mr Leung Yuet-hei, representing the Nansha yacht building and repair industry.

Presentations were delivered by Mr Yuan Biao, Deputy Director of the Nansha Development Zone Administrative Committee; Mr Benjamin Wong, Head of Transport, Logistics and Industrials at Invest Hong Kong, on Hong Kong’s yachting industry development plans and opportunities; and Mr Ye Zhenhui, Chairman of Nansha Development and Construction Group, on jointly building the Bay Area yachting ecosystem.

Invest Hong Kong presenting on Hong Kong’s yachting industry development plans and opportunities.

Three themes ran through the discussion

• Deepening boating culture on both sides of the boundary
• Building a boating value chain that genuinely connects the region
• Expanding marina and berthing infrastructure to support a seamless cross-boundary yachting ecosystem

HKBIA’s position

A Bay Area yachting ecosystem will be built on practical arrangements rather than declarations. Three points matter most to our members.

• Berthing capacity. Hong Kong remains structurally short of berths, and that shortage caps everything downstream – sales, servicing, crew and marine tourism alike. Nansha’s build-out is an opportunity rather than a threat, provided the two sides plan capacity and standards together rather than in parallel.
• Cross-boundary access. Yacht free movement between Guangdong and Hong Kong has proved the concept. Widening the entry points and simplifying pre-arrival and clearance procedures would do more for cross-boundary boating in the near term than any single new facility.
• A real value chain. Hong Kong’s brokerage, surveying, finance, insurance and crew training capability, paired with Nansha’s build and refit capacity, is a far stronger regional offer than either side alone. The trade already works on both sides of the boundary; the policy framework should catch up with that commercial reality.

Opening remarks at the round table, held in Hong Kong on 11 August 2026.

The Greater Bay Area has the scale to become a world-class yachting destination, and Hong Kong – with its professional services, maritime expertise and international connectivity – is well placed to contribute. HKBIA will continue to represent the trade in these discussions, and we welcome members’ views on the priorities above.

Speakers, participants and guests at the close of the round table.

Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Chow
Chair
Hong Kong Boating Industry Association

Photos courtesy of the organiser.

The Hong Kong Government published a notice on 7 August proposing to allow Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to proceed with works for SKYTOPIA’s water recreation area and Yacht Bay, with construction tentatively scheduled for 2027–2030.

The site covers the bay bounded by Hong Kong International Airport, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and Tung Chung, extending east of the port and into Tung Chung East. The works involve dredging the bay and building breakwaters, together with gangways, platforms and floating walkways featuring cable wake towers.

Three main features make up the development:

• Airport Bay Marina – planned to provide 500 berths for vessels up to 100 metres long.
• Marine resort – a hotel offering direct marina access, plus a promenade with dining and leisure facilities.
• Aquatic entertainment – including a water recreation area.

The notice follows AAHK’s April 2026 invitation to global investors and partners to submit expressions of interest for SKYTOPIA’s Yacht Bay, which remains open.

The Government has opened a two-month period for affected parties to submit written objections, closing on 7 October 2026.

 

Reported by Marina World, 11 August 2026 – read the full article. Project information: www.skytopiahk.com/en/eoi/yachtbay. Image: SKYTOPIA project brochure, Airport Authority Hong Kong.

Born to unlock the full sea-land-air potential of Hong Kong International Airport, SKYTOPIA will be a world-class coastal destination where yachting, aviation, and city life connect seamlessly. Backed by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), Skytopia blends commerce, popular culture, art, entertainment, and leisure, designed to elevate air-ocean tourism and place Hong Kong at the heart of Asia’s yacht destination map.

AAHK invites visionary partners through an Expression of Interest (EOI) to co-create a vibrant, iconic, future-ready landmark. The goal: align on the commercial vision, understand market expectations, and build global partnerships through a premier industry networking platform. The Yacht Bay EOI remains open for interested parties exploring potential opportunities. Details, including the EOI brochure, are available at www.skytopiahk.com/en/eoi/yachtbay.

The Festival of Connoisseurs Debuts in November 2026

With a bold vision to redefine luxury experiences across Hong Kong and showcase SKYTOPIA as the city’s next premier destination for high-end business and tourism, The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC) makes its highly anticipated debut in November 2026, presented by Informa Markets. Unlike conventional trade fairs, TFOC pioneers Asia’s first “City-as-Your-Showroom” model, transforming multiple iconic venues beyond SKYTOPIA, including waterfronts, cultural precincts, and landmark districts, into a living luxury universe.

Curated across nine worlds of connoisseurship, from superyachts and supercars to fine art, private aviation, and gastronomy, the festival offers an immersive, citywide journey where global brands engage high-net-worth audiences in unexpected settings. This groundbreaking format sets TFOC apart, unlocking a new paradigm for luxury lifestyle events in Asia.

 

TFOC takes place 4–6 November 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo, with a full-scale festival to follow in June 2027 – www.tfochk.com.

Source: Asia Pacific Superyacht Association, 31 July 2026. Image: SKYTOPIA project brochure, Airport Authority Hong Kong.

Dear Members,

On 10 August 2026, HKBIA wrote to the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee Ka-chiu, and to the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, setting out the industry’s input for the 2026 Policy Address and for Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026–2030).

Our submission makes the case for Hong Kong as the “Monaco of the East”. With 268 islands and over 12,000 registered pleasure vessels – more than the Mainland and more than South-East Asia combined – Hong Kong is already the largest marine recreation market in Asia. The opening of the Greater Bay “Archipelago” to yacht tourism, pleasure boating, water sports and recreational fishing is the opportunity to grow that market, and with it boat sales, maintenance and repair, marinas and boat clubs, island tourism and the supporting industries and jobs behind them.

The letter sets out five strategies to grow the marine recreation economy:

1. Invest in sheltered waters for safe mooring of pleasure vessels – addressing a shortfall of 9,000 berths
2. Allocate long-term land leases along waterfronts to enable marine industries to thrive
3. Provide a venue for international boat shows
4. Continue opening north- and south-bound yacht travel
5. Establish a dedicated government support structure

Alongside the letter, HKBIA submitted marked-up recommendations to the Five-Year Plan public consultation document, together with its Greater Bay Archipelago paper.

Documents

HKBIA Letter to the Chief Executive and Policy Unit – Policy Address 2026 and Five-Year Plan input

The First Five-Year Plan Public Consultation Document – with edits recommended by HKBIA

HKBIA – Greater Bay Archipelago

Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Chow
Chair, Hong Kong Boating Industry Association

Dear Members,

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the investment promotion agency of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, is hosting an exclusive breakfast reception, “Hong Kong: Asia’s Yachting Gateway”, during the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, and has extended the invitation to HKBIA members.

Hong Kong’s yachting economy is entering a transformative phase. The HKSAR Government is catalysing growth through strategic infrastructure development, including the planned release of four new marinas – an expansion that will accelerate opportunities across the entire value chain.

The reception brings together global yachting industry leaders, investors and service providers for first-hand insight into how to capitalise on this new chapter, and why Hong Kong is the gateway to one of the world’s most dynamic luxury marine markets.

“Hong Kong: Asia’s Yachting Gateway”
Date: Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Time: 08:00 – 10:00 (CEST)
Venue: The Vieux Port VIP Club (roof of the Palais des Festivals), Cannes, France

Fill in the RSVP form →

Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, non-transferable and subject to final approval. Please register by 3 September 2026. Confirmation emails will be issued to successful registrants in due course.

For enquiries, please contact Jacky Tang at InvestHK – yktang@investhk.gov.hk – with the subject line “Breakfast Reception on 9 Sep”.

If you are exhibiting at or visiting Cannes this year, this is a good opportunity to meet the InvestHK team and international counterparts ahead of the new marina releases.

Yours sincerely,
Lawrence Chow
Chair, HKBIA

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, statements or recommendations expressed by speakers and participants at events are solely those of the individuals concerned. They do not represent InvestHK’s position or views, nor do they constitute an endorsement or approval by InvestHK of any particular viewpoints, recommendations or activities.

PRINCESS YACHTS ANNOUNCES NEW COMMERCIAL STRATEGY FOR KEY ASIAN MARKETS Dear Members, Please use the following link to access the Press Release from Princess Yachts: Princess Yachts Asia Announcement Release.pdf 公主游艇(Princess Yachts)宣布亚洲市场全新直营策略.pdf 公主遊艇(Princess Yachts)宣布亞洲市場全新直營策略.pdf