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:
- Invest in sheltered waters for safe mooring of pleasure vessels – addressing a shortfall of 9,000 berths
- Allocate long-term land leases along waterfronts to enable marine industries to thrive
- Provide a venue for international boat shows
- Continue opening north- and south-bound yacht travel
- 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
