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Cruising Guide to Southeast Asia Volume I (out or print)

By: Davies and Morgan

South China, Hong Kong and Macau, The Philippines; Malaysia; Brunei; Singapore; East Thailand; Cambodia and Vietnam;

Supplement dated 2004 contains much useful information [http://www.imray.com/corrections/SE_Asia_Vol_1_sup_6.pdf]

Hong Kong (Victoria Harbour) – 22°17.00'N, 114°10.00'E

1) INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY Peter & Peggy Stevens - Flying Dragon

2) DATE 1998

3) HARBOUR OR AREA COVERED Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

4) SUITABILITY AND ATTRACTION FOR YACHTS Excellent, although don’t come for pristine beaches, clean air and cheap living. Do come for the excitement, eating out, trips into china and the skyline. Cruising up and down the coast into Chinese waters is still not possible on a routine basis, although there are a number of organised forays every year. The Portuguese colony of Macau is a day’s sail and good for duty free, good food and cheap wine. It is still possible to get way from it all with HK waters, Mirs bay, to the NE, has some lovely spots and great walks, together with superb seafood restaurants. The weather is at its best during the NE monsoon, October - April, with January and February being the coldest (10-15°C). Typhoons have occurred in every month of the year though rarely between December and April. September is usually the worst month.

5) MARINAS, BERTHING OR ANCHORAGE The Royal (still) Hong Kong Yacht Club is situated close to the centre of the harbour and main shopping areas, although its Causeway Bay anchorage is very polluted. On the South side of HK Island are the Aberdeen Boat Club and Aberdeen Marina Club. Out of town to the east is the Sai Kung peninsular with the Clearwater Bay marina, Hong Kong marina, another RHKYC marina and the Hebe Haven Yacht club. Of these the latter is the most user friendly for visiting yachts and has most things that one would need. The Gold Coats and Discovery Bay marinas are situated to the west of HK.

6) ENTRY PORTS Hong Kong

7) FORMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YACHTS ENTERING/DEPARTING

a) from/to same country Nil

b) from/to abroad Usual Ship’s papers and passports. To Marine Department for Port Clearance and then Immigration Dept. These are both situated within walking distance of each other in the Sheung Wan district of HK island, near to the Macau Ferry pier. Clear in within 24 hrs of arrival.

c) visa requirements Visitors’ visas issued upon arrival.

8) LOCATION/EXISTENCE OF

a) harbour master Marine Dept., Harbour Building, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong island. The Pleasure Vessels Section 4/f deals with yachts.

b) customs No requirement to check in/out

c) health authorities As above

d) police Marine Police Headquarters, Sai Wan Ho, HK Island. The Command & Control centre monitors VHF Ch 16, call sign Marpol or RCCC Marine. Tel 2312 6595 e) immigration Inquiries 2824 6111, Fax 2877 7711

9) CONTROL OF FOREIGN YACHTS None, except that yachts and crews from previously Eastern bloc countries and N.Korea and Taiwan may be restricted or possibly even denied entry.

10) ATTITUDE OF OFFICIALS TO VISITING YACHTSMEN Very good. All are efficient and there is no corruption.

11) REPAIR/HAULING FACILITIES A number of yacht clubs and marinas have lifting/slipping facilities, as do several commercial boatyards.

12) SAILING DIRECTIONS OR CHARTS China Sea Pilot Vol. 1 . BA charts 341, 937, 3612 & 3544.

13) PORT RADIO SERVICES Hong Kong Radio, VHF Ch 16 - erratic. MARDEP on Ch 12.

14) WEATHER FORECASTS RTHK Radio 3 (567 KHz), hourly on the hour. Shipping forecast 0558/1200/1758. HK Observatory Tel 2926 8200. Tropical Cyclone warnings Tel 2835 1473. Local waters Tel 1878066. HK airport 13282/8828 mHz

15) YACHT CLUB(S) Royal Hong Kong Y.C. (Tel 852 2832 2817 Fax 2572 5399, Hebe Haven Y.C. (Tel 852 2719 3673, Fax 2358 1017)

16) OTHER FACILITIES -

a) drinking water All marinas and clubs

b) fuel All marinas and clubs

c) gas (propane)/gaz/ LPG (Propane) is a common cooking fuel in HK. Numerous outlets.

d) chandlers Several, plus numerous ‘Aladdin’s Caves’ where almost anything can be bought or made.

e) bank Numerous

f) shops/market Numerous. Large European style supermarkets, plus many excellent local fruit/veg/fish/meat markets.

g) restaurants/hotels Too numerous to mention - HK is the eating capital of the world. Full range of accommodation.

h) post office/telephones Main GPO near the Star Ferry, HK side. Overseas calls/fax services also available.

i) best mailing address c/o one of the Yacht Clubs.RHKYC, Kellet Island, Causeway Bay, HK. , Hebe Haven YC, 157 Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung, Kowloon, HK.

j) showers All yacht clubs and marinas

k) laundry Clubs and marinas will advise. Numerous cleaning outlets.

l) transport/air services) HK has probably the best public transport services in the world. Buses, minibuses, trams, taxis, underground (MTR) and railway (KCR) are all frequent and cheap. International flights.

m) hospital Excellent. Private hospitals/doctors/dentists etc are expensive. Public facilities are more than adequate, large number of public hospitals and clinics where treatment is inexpensive.

n) anything else Firearms - the HK authorities are very strict. All firearms, including CS sprays must be declared and stored at Police Headquarters.

17) FIRST HAND RECOMMENDATIONS OR WARNINGS Tropicl Tropical Storms. - the forecasting services are excellent. There are a number of Government typhoon shelters, which soon fill with all sorts of fishing boats, sampans and commercial craft. They are best avoided. All the club and marina facilities are typhoon safe. There are also a number of safe anchorages in the Sai Kung area. HK is a Hong Kong is a very safe city in which to live or visit. Crime is amongst t the lowest in the world but beware of pickpockets in the main shopping areas. All the marinas are pretty secure. Theft of outboards and dinghies can be a problem in some of the Sai Kung anchorages, especially Hebe Haven.