'Mooring Policy Only Aids Private Boats, Clubs'

The Ombudsman has blasted the Marine Department over its management of mooring spaces for private boats, saying its policy and management has only helped some private vessel owners and yacht clubs to make huge profits via the use of public resources.

The department has designated 43 areas within Hong Kong waters for close to 2,000 private vessel moorings. More than 800 of the spaces are held by four private yacht clubs.

They're located in waters all over Hong Kong but majority of them are at Aberdeen, Hebe Haven in Sai Kung and the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter.

Vessel owners can make applications to the department and be given written permission to rent a mooring space for a few hundred dollars per month, depending on the size of the vessel.

There was a clause in the agreement banning people from subletting these spaces.

However, in 2017, after seeking legal advice, the department removed the clause. It argued that the moorings are private property, and the city's legislation does not regulate their subletting.

This led to those who were allotted the spots for a few hundred dollars subletting them to others for thousands.

The watchdog slammed the department, saying "the locations in the waters available for laying the private moorings are limited public resources". The watchdog criticised the department's attitude, saying it should not let people "run a lucrative business at zero risk".

The Ombudsman, Connie Lau, said on Tuesday that a quick search on the internet reveals a lot of advertisements for the subletting of these spaces, at a monthly rent of up to HK$10,000. She said it is shocking that the department didn't take any action to tackle what she called a blatant and widespread problem.

“We think this is very undesirable, and also, it goes against the original intent of the legislation,” said Lau.

She pointed out that more than 500 applicants were queuing for a mooring space, some of whom have waited for more than a decade.

The Ombudsman also questioned why four yacht clubs have been allowed to rent out some of these private mooring spaces. "The Marine Department is in effect subsidising those yacht clubs with precious public resources," the report said.

It also called for a review of the system of allotting mooring spots, intensified spot checks and amending laws to stop abuse of the allotted moorings.