In Hong Kong with more water than land, with some 800km of coastline and 280 odd islands, it appears only rich people can have proper access to their boats and watersports. Other hongkongers are left to create their own make-shift solutions. Simply look at our local watersports – dragon boats(龍舟)– and you find embarrassingly poor infrastructure(欠缺硬件配套) for storage, training and launching boats.
Why? Well, no one is taking responsibility. Planning Department(規劃署) only considers land uses. LCSD(康文署) has many pleasure grounds on land, and a few sail training centres, but no policy to support clubs and individuals to store and use boats and watersports equipment. Lands Department is only interested in selling land and seabed to developers of expensive private clubs. Transport Department only builds piers when there is a ferry or kaido(街渡) service. And the Marine Department is focused on making sure local vessels and marine traffic are safe.
To make sure everyone, not only the rich, can enjoy our waters the government needs to adopt a new policy and direct all bureaux and departments to “make our shores and waters accessible for the enjoyment of waterborne sports, leisure and recreation by all people.”
The main responsibility falls on the Home Affairs Bureau which is responsible for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Home Affairs Department, to provide policy support(政策支持) for storage facilities for small vessels along the shore, as well as landing steps(登岸梯級), piers and ramps for launching boats and for people to get safely on and off vessels. Moreover, they need to ensure the Marine Department and CEDD(土木工程拓展署) Port Works expand and increase our typhoon shelters(避風塘) in convenient locations so that small pleasure vessels(遊樂船隻) can be kept safe.
