Airport yacht harbor project seeks intentions, expected to tender in the last quarter, providing hotel and 500 berths

The Airport Authority announced the official launch of the "Airport City" (SKYTOPIA) yacht harbor project and invited the industry to submit expressions of interest. The project will provide 500 berths, becoming the largest yacht berth facility in Hong Kong. Bidding is expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2028, initially providing about 70 small to medium-sized yacht berths.

Airport Authority's Executive Director of Business, Chan Cheng-si, stated that the project will not only provide berths but also feature a resort hotel covering an area of 12,000 square meters, offering over 300 guest rooms, along with 100 hectares of water area as the largest water recreation area in Hong Kong. Half of the berths will accommodate superyachts longer than 30 meters, with four berths capable of hosting yachts over 100 meters in length, the largest of which can accommodate a 120-meter yacht. In addition to long-term berths, there will also be short-term berths available for travelers and chartered vessels.

Chan mentioned that 2028 is an important year, as the first phase of the yacht harbor will be gradually completed, and the second phase of the AsiaWorld-Expo will also be completed in the same year. The driverless system connecting Airport City and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port will extend to Tung Chung; other supporting facilities include the Airport East Tung Chung Road, waterfront pedestrian walkway, bay square, aerospace corridor, Airport City waterfront promenade, and observation deck. The Airport Authority expects the total expenditure for the entire Airport City project to be about HKD 100 billion, with the Airport Authority responsible for strategic infrastructure costing about HKD 30 billion, such as the construction of the bay square and waterfront promenade.

The President of the Hong Kong Yacht Industry Association, Ho Wai-lok, estimates that for the development of the yacht harbor, just the 500 berths for the yacht club and related connecting bridges, excluding the hotel portion, will require an investment of between HKD 4 billion to 5 billion, which is a significant amount. Last month, the government announced plans to develop Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter in a district model, combining yacht berthing facilities with residential projects. Ho believes that this project will be very attractive to developers, as it offers residential income and a quicker return on investment, and with the government funding the reconstruction of the breakwater, the cost for about 200 yacht club berths is not too high, leading to considerable inquiries from local, mainland, and foreign investors