The race is on and Hong Kong is about to show the world how democracy works. It is a unique system where everybody gets a slice of the pie. But it is a system which the pro-democracy activists and doomsday sayers fail to understand.
Yesterday nominations closed for the 2025 Legislative Council elections with 161 nominations submitted – slightly up on the previous elections – for the 90 seats in the legislature.
The representation is wide in the Hong Kong system. The man in the street gets to vote for 20 seats. With a population of 6.5 million over the voting age of 18, there are about 4 million registered electors, so about 2/3s will be able to vote. That is democracy.
Then we have the functional constituencies with 30 seats and 60 candidates. This group ensures that all the trades and professions are represented. So, members in this group effectively get two votes – one for home and one for work. With two candidates for every seat there is bound to be plenty of competition.
Another 50 hopefuls have submitted their forms to vie for the 40-strong Election Committee constituency. This is the group that elects the Chief Executive. It actually has 1,500 members – 1,000 more than the election committee that picks the US President – but only 40 can sit on the Legislature.
That gives us 90 seats in the legislature with highly qualified men and women who are willing to give up their time to work for the betterment of Hong Kong. Nothing could be more representative than this mix of people in society to speak up for the underdog, the underprivileged, for the hardworking housewife… How dare the prophets of doom and the western media say there is no democracy in Hong Kong!
The western media continue calling media mogul Jimmy Lai a pro-democracy advocate. He’s not, and it was rarely mentioned throughout his trial. He is being tried for subversion and collusion with foreign governments. But democracy sells papers.
Now the race has begun, and the clash of titans heralds a new era for Hong Kong. Hopefully, the campaigns will bring out the voters, which is difficult in any country.
The man in the street is generally apolitical; he doesn’t care about politics and has enough of his own problems. Why should he go out to vote? It is necessary to ensure that the right people are picked to be representing the public at large and to stand up for injustices.
Apathy towards elections has gotten so bad in some places that 21 countries have introduced compulsory voting, including Australia, but excluding the US, UK and most of Europe.
This is not necessary for Hong Kong. In the last Legislative Councils elections in 2021, the voter turnout for the geographic constituencies was 30.2 per cent, which is par for the course.
But this year we hope to do better. The government is bound to roll out a series of campaigns urging its citizens to vote on December 7. Already Chief Executive John Lee has been touting the boy scouts at the rally with: "I’m calling on scouts and scout leaders who are eligible voters to actively take part in the elections, fulfilling their civic and social responsibilities."
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Rosanna Law said she will feature in a video clip along with leading officials in her bureau to encourage the public to vote.
And Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that he has met with senior advisors to map out stronger promotional campaigns for the Legislative Council elections, adding that more than 30 departments and public bodies under the six policy bureaus must comprehensively intensify such efforts in the coming month.
However, it will be up to the candidates themselves to draw the voters out. Operation doorknock prevails and it will be up to him/herself to convince the eligible voter to vote.
A voter turnout rate higher than 30 per cent will generate profound international publicity to turn around the prophets of doom and instill newborn energy into the life of Hong Kong.
Mark Pinkstone
** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
In his 2025 policy address, Chief Executive (CE) John Lee has turned a recreational/sporting activity into an industry to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a key player in Asia’s development.
“With 1 180 kilometres of shoreline and 263 islands, Hong Kong is well-positioned to become a yacht hub in Asia. We will enhance amenities for the yacht industry and promote prime yacht tourism,” he declared.
This direction deserves strong public support. A well‑developed yacht economy is not a niche concern for a small number of owners, but rather a high value‑added ecosystem that creates jobs in tourism, hospitality, marine services, finance, insurance, legal, training and events. When a large yacht berths in a city, it brings not only crew salaries and maintenance spending, but also hotel nights, restaurant business, luxury retail and demand for professional services. Industry estimates suggest a single large visiting yacht can generate over HK$100,000 per day in local economic activity through berthing, fuelling, provisioning, dining, retail and entertainment.
Hong Kong is well poised to achieve the CE’s goal. Already there are 12,323 pleasure boats in Hong Kong moored in nine marinas or clubs. Another four marinas, offering about 1000 berths, are in the planning stage.
The largest of these new marinas is at the new airport extension known as Skytopia which will offer 500 berths followed by one at Aberdeen, Hung Hom and Lamma with each providing about 200 berths.
But berths alone will not make Hong Kong a true yacht hub. Owners and captains make decisions based on the whole experience: ease of entry and clearance procedures, quality of marinas and repair services, shore‑side facilities for guests, and the overall attractiveness of the destination. If we provide the berths but not the supporting ecosystem, yachts will still choose to base themselves in other Asian ports and only visit Hong Kong briefly, or not at all.
Hong Kong also has the second highest number of superyacht ownership after Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia accounts for 146 superyachts while Hong Kong has 92. Superyachts, super floating hotels exceeding 30 metres in length, are big business for the rich and famous, such as movie star Jackie Chan’s 46 metre (150-foot) JinLong 4601. Currently up for sale in Aberdeen is the 30.23 metre (90.2 foot) Riva Yacht 102 Corsaro for Euro 11,000,000 (HK$100,855,000).
The industry is huge and worth billions. Besides the boats themselves, there is a multitude of ancillary services such as ship building and sail making, electrical and mechanical engineers, cleansing services to clear the hulls of barnacles, catering services to replenish the superyachts, chandlers, etc. The industry also provides for the welfare of hundreds of coxswains and boat boys, many of whom sleep on the boats to maintain the security of the vessels.
Hong Kong is the place where there could be plenty of buyers. According to the latest 2024 Billionaire Census report from Forbes, Hong Kong maintains its position as the second city in the world, after New York, with the highest number of billionaires housing 107 ultra-wealthy individuals.
Positioning itself on the world stage, Hong Kong will host its 26th International Boat Show in December at Marina Cove. It is Hong Kong’s most prestigious and longest serving platform for boat buyers and dealers in the Asia-Pacific Region.
To make the event the international showcase for the best and latest boats, the organisers have lined up a spectacular display of the world’s most famous brands. With boats from Italy, France, Britain, Poland, Finland, USA and China, as well as accessories, engines and equipment, water sports gear and wear etc., visitors will be able to view everything in boating in this four-day event.
As a marketplace for multi-million superyachts, racing yachts, plain sailing yachts and other boats, the government’s willingness to engage with industry stakeholders signals a growing recognition of the economic and tourism potential of Hong Kong’s maritime sector. Moving forward, policy reforms and infrastructure investments will determine the city’s role in the regional yachting market. If implemented successfully, these initiatives could make Hong Kong a premier superyacht hub in Asia.
The yacht market in the city is flourishing, driven by the region`s affluent population and a growing interest in recreational boating. Hong Kong`s strategic location as a maritime hub facilitates yacht manufacturing, sales, and services, making it a prominent player in the Asia-Pacific yacht market. The increasing popularity of luxury yachts and the rising number of boat enthusiasts are propelling demand in the sector. Additionally, the development of marina facilities and recreational areas is enhancing the overall yachting experience. As environmental sustainability becomes a key focus, manufacturers are exploring eco-friendly technologies and designs in yacht production, further shaping the market`s future.
Some worry that more marinas and yacht facilities in neighbouring Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities will draw business away from Hong Kong. However, with careful planning this relationship can be complementary.
Hong Kong can serve as the command-and-control centre – the place where yachts are owned, registered, financed, insured and managed – while GBA ports provide additional cruising grounds, home berths and repair yards. With streamlined cross‑boundary schemes, a yacht can be managed and serviced in Hong Kong while enjoying the full range of GBA destinations, from island anchorages to entertainment hubs.
The yacht market in Hong Kong is thriving, bolstered by the city’s status as a luxury lifestyle hub. The government’s efforts to promote maritime tourism and enhance marina facilities are pivotal in supporting this market. Policies aimed at attracting foreign investment in the leisure marine industry, alongside initiatives to boost local tourism, will contribute to the growth of yacht ownership and associated services in Hong Kong.
