Hong Kong - Clearance
While entering Hong Kong is possible for foreign cruising yachts, spending time and cruising the country is virtually impossible.
For full details of entry procedures to Hong Kong, click on this link for the Hong Kong Marine Department (Mardep).
http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/notes_ymaster.html
PRE-ARRIVAL
Permission to enter Hong Kong waters is required by submitting the pre-arrival notice 24 hours in advance. Download the PAN of a Visiting Yacht/Pleasure Vessel form. This official form should be emailed to hkmrcc@mardep.gov.hk. Alternatively, complete this form online.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
The Hong Kong Port Operations Service operates on VHF Channel 12, 14 and 68, call sign MARDEP 24 hours a day. Yachts may be boarded and searched in Hong Kong or Chinese territorial waters. Illegal immigration and smuggling are major problems.
General Process:
Formalities should be completed with Health, Immigration and the Marine Department.
For Health formalities on arrival see Biosecurity.
For Immigration formalities see Hong Kong Immigration Clearance of Pleasure Vessels.
Visiting yachts vessels should, within 24 hours after the vessels’ arrival, report their arrival at one of the District Marine Offices of the Marine Department. The following paperwork will be needed:
- A General Declaration Form MD 510;
- Port Clearance issued by the authority of the last port of call;
- Certificate of Registry of the vessel;
- Crew list (ID 207A) in triplicate – this will be stamped by Immigration;
- Passenger list in duplicate;
- Travel documents or Hong Kong permanent identity card of all persons on board;
- Completed arrival cards of all persons on board, if necessary; or
- Other relevant documents as requested.
A prescribed fee of HK$58 for the arrival clearance would be charged.
As long as yachts clear in within 24 hours of arrival, it is not necessary to go to a prescribed anchorage, instead non-commercial yachts may go to an anchorage or a yacht club for check-in procedures. Usually, foreign-flagged yachts go straight to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Domestic Cruising:
To cruise in Hong Kong waters, a “permit to navigate” can be applied for provided that specific requirements have been met, including a clause in the yachts’ insurance as well as a locally licensed captain. An RYA yachtmaster can obtain this by doing an exam on the local rules, although there is a long waiting list for this exam.
CLEARING OUT
Report to the Port Formalities Office before departure with the necessary papers:
– Crew list in duplicate for departure clearance;
– Passenger list in duplicate;
– Travel documents or Hong Kong permanent identity card of all persons on board;
– Completed departure cards of all persons on board, if necessary; or
– Other relevant documents as requested
A Port Clearance Permit must be obtained within 36 hours before departure, which is valid for 72 hours.
Immigration clearance out must be done within 24 hours of leaving.
A prescribed fee of HK$58 for the departure clearance is charged.
Last updated: November 2022
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There is limited information available on Noonsite for Hong Kong and given our new yacht is being delivered there, we have looked into the rules and regulations as a foreign yacht. We are informed that in principle foreign yachts are not allowed to cruise in Hong Kong. In order to cruise you must complete the formalities and you must employ a local captain onboard at all times when the yacht is underway. The minimum foreign qualification accepted is RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and only then once you have sat a local knowledge test in Hong Kong. This test has a long waiting list right now.
There are two levels of test – up to 15m (where you can the local test backed by RYA Day Skipper) and up to 24m (where you need RYA Yachtmaster). You can’t even drive your tender if the dinghy is more than 3m in length and has an engine of more than 4hp.
In addition, the availability of visitor berths is very scarce. Due to local shortage, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club have allocated all of their berths to permanent owners. We are currently hunting around for a berth where we can accept delivery of the boat.
In short, Hong Kong may not be as easy as it seems!
Hi Christine,
There are quite a lot of well sheltered anchorage in Hong Kong albeit not always around the usual locations. You can drop me an email (djghosie@gmail.com) to let me know you needs and I could share you with some suggestions.
Have fun coming to Hong Kong.
Thanks a lot for the contact! We are now registered under our yacht name so might come up as a different person on this reply. We are waiting for our boat to be delivered to us from the shipyard in China and as soon as we are in Hong Kong, I’ll most certainly drop you an email for suggestions.
Hong Kong has many islands, there are fast Ferry’s to and from the islands.
In particular – Lantau island – Silvermine Bay Beach( East inlet cove) has a fast ferry that will take to you into HongKong within 30 mins at a cost of approx 44 HKD/person. Sometimes it’s easier to let someone else do the driving.
You can take your Dingy to the beach (weekends are more busy), and get some cold resentments instead of going into HK itself, there is a local market there, open during day hours, listed until 8 pm.
There is a local Waterfall and mine (closed off, public access). Bicycles are typically used around this island.
Do you want a taste of some English style food (trust me I was starving)… Between Pui O Beach and Sivermine Beach – “The Water Buffalo” Owner Operator – taste of a small English Pub. Take Taxi (expensive Appox $40 HKD ) or Bus ( $4HKD as there is regular transport to and from the Beaches) – Note that BUS fare are done though the METRO Card or Exact Change.
HongKong and Singapore are very busy areas, especially in Shipping.
Hi.
We are currently sailing north of Borneo and we are heading to Palawan and China before the SW monsoon gets too strong.
We have to schedule a haul out before December and we are considering HK as our first option. We would love to have recommendations! We don’t pretend to stay dry longer than 3 days.
Our boat is a Lagoon 45.
I will have a look on noonsite periodically, otherwise I can get contacted through my email: moreau.sail@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Amandine Moreau