Why Doesn’t Hong Kong Have numerous Proper Residential Marina Communities? Have we totally missed the boat?

It has always confused me that Hong Kong does not have a significant population living on residential “boats”; it’s such a logical thing where you have a lot of water and limited land.

We never seem entirely comfortable with people living on board, and it may stem from the removal of mass fishing fleets from our typhoon shelters. When I first arrived, there was a strong maritime residential presence that had been stripped away, taking a cultural hit as well. The loss of moorings such as Discovery Bay Marina also showed the struggle to grasp the opportunity we have to promote on-the-water living.

Perhaps as boats offer a better lifestyle for less cost, they are a perceived threat to traditional real estate development? As to safety, there should be no risk in living aboard. Many people live on the water in planned communities in Amsterdam, Seattle and London, all show how this model can thrive. The photo is of a community in Sausalito.

Why is there little development, no long-term strategy and no infrastructure like beefed-up typhoon moorings or marinas led by the Government to support maritime living? Will incidents like the recent marina blaze that destroyed 20 boats now be seen as a reason to be even more restrictive?

We are building higher, yet our coastal living potential remains untapped. The Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, where I watched stunning dragon boats race against a backdrop of the fishing fleet decades ago was filled in to make way for highways and towers. In a city where land development thrives, water based alternatives do seem to be quietly erased without a thought.

What next? Instead of simply saying people should not live on boats, which might be a predictable “cannot” reaction, Hong Kong can consider a fresh, careful and well-supported plan for widespread maritime living. It would not take much. It’s not technically too difficult (weather planning permitting).

What’s missing is the will.

This kind of non-traditional initiative is unlikely to be backed by real estate developers and may not even generate huge land premiums for the government or money for bank mortgages on land. But it is a missed opportunity for a city surrounded by ocean, rich coastlines, islands and amazing views. Letting people live safely and legally on the water would be a worthwhile policy goal for a world city with such a massive maritime heritage.

Fresh calls to fix marina problems as blaze sinks 20 boats:
https://lnkd.in/geKu25Y5

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

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