News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Lam Ka-sing
Retired harbour pilot Alex Yu Chi-leung recently sailed his 50-foot wooden yacht from Causeway Bay in Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai under a new cross-border yachting scheme, but encountered bureaucratic hurdles and high costs. The scheme, which allows eligible Hong Kong and Macau vessels to enter designated Guangdong waters for tourism, had 139 participants on 16 yachts. Yu gave the voyage a score of 60 out of 100, calling the procedures "numerous, complicated and ambiguous". He expressed concerns that if the requirements are not simplified, he may choose to sail in Hong Kong or take a commercial ferry instead.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Alex Yu, a 66-year-old retired harbour pilot, recently completed his first voyage under a new cross-border yachting scheme from Hong Kong's Causeway Bay to Dongao Island in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, but was frustrated by bureaucratic hurdles and high costs. The trip was part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau individual yacht scheme, which allowed 16 yachts from Hong Kong and Macau to participate. Yu's experience was eventful, but he gave it a score of only 60 out of 100 due to the difficulties. He expressed concerns that unless the procedures are simplified, he may not return for another trip. In fact, he said he would rather take a commercial ferry to Dongao instead of going through the hassle of sailing his yacht under the scheme.
Written for “Hong Kong Yacht Scheme” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 5547 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-06
Red tape, high cost: can Hong Kong’s new yacht scheme chart a smoother course?
asserted
scheme → chart → course
Participants sailing to Guangdong province’s Dongao Island say voyage was eventful although bureaucracy and costs were hurdles
Retired harbour pilot Alex Yu Chi-leung sailed his 50-foot wooden yacht, Bowline, from Causeway Bay in Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai under a new cross-border yachting scheme last week, but bureaucratic hurdles and shallow waters tempered the excitement of the leisure trip.
It was Yu’s first voyage under the scheme, but it could also be his last unless mainland Chinese authorities improve certain requirements.
“If the procedures are simplified – because right now they are too numerous, complicated and ambiguous – then I will come back again,” he said.
uncertain
he → sail → requirements
“If I have to do a massive round of work just to sail for one or two days, I might as well sail in Hong Kong.”
uncertain
I → have → Kong
He added that he would rather take a commercial ferry to Dongao for a holiday.
asserted
he → add → holiday
Still, the 66-year-old veteran mariner gave the voyage a score of 60 out of 100 and viewed it as a worthwhile test run.
Yu was among 139 participants aboard 16 yachts from Hong Kong and Macau that sailed to Dongao under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau individual yacht scheme.
asserted
that → give → scheme
Launched in June, the scheme allows eligible Hong Kong and Macau vessels to enter designated Guangdong waters for tourism.
asserted
vessels → launch → tourism
