The Hong Kong Marine Department has issued a notice regarding speed limits for all vessels within designated restricted zones.
The attention of owners, operators, coxswains and masters of pleasure vessels and all other vessels are drawn to section 9(3) of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F) and regulation 19(3) of the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A), which set out the speed limit for ALL vessels within restricted zones. The restricted zones are specified in the Eighteenth Schedule to the Shipping and Port Control Regulations. A summary of the speed limit and restriction period in each restricted zone is set out below:
Speed limit: 5 knots (8 a.m. – 12 midnight)
Applicable on:
- Any Saturday
- Any public holiday
- Any day from 1 July to 15 September (both days inclusive)
Tolo Harbour
- T1 Plover Cove
- T2 Sha Tin Hoi
- T3 Ko Tong Hau
- T4 Three Fathoms Cove
- T5 Wu Kai Sha
- T6 Sam Mun Tsai
Port Shelter and Rocky Harbour
- K1 Tai She Wan
- K2 Tsam Chuk Wan
- K4 East Kiu Tsui Chau
- K5 West Kau Sai Chau
- K6 South Kau Sai Chau
- K7 Bluff Island
- K8 Clear Water Bay
- K9 Sor Sze Mun
- K10 Ma Tau Wan
- K11 High Island
- K12 Yeung Chau
Speed limit: 5 knots (8 a.m. – 12 midnight)
Applicable on:
- Any Saturday
- Any public holiday
- Any day from 1 April to 31 October (both days inclusive)
Hong Kong Island, South
- A1 To Tei Wan
- A2 Tai Tam Harbour
- A3 Stanley Bay
- A4 Chung Hom Wan
- A5 South Bay
- A6 Deep Water Bay
- A10 Tai Tam Bay
- A11 Repulse Bay
Lamma Island
- A7 Luk Chau Wan
- A8 Sham Wan
Cheung Chau
-
A9 Tung Wan
Lantau Island
-
L1 Discovery Bay
Speed limit: 5 knots (8 a.m. – 12 midnight)
Applicable on:
-
All days of the year
Port Shelter and Rocky Harbour
-
K3 Hebe Haven (Pak Sha Wan)
General safety advisory
Coxswains and masters of all vessels, particularly large or powerful vessels, should exercise due care and avoid generating excessive wake wash when navigating in the restricted zones, in areas near swimming beaches and fish culture zones. They should give due consideration to the safety of other people and vessels in the vicinity.
In narrow channels such as Fat Tong Mun (Tung Lung Chau), the speed of all vessels should be reduced to a safe speed generally not exceeding 5 knots. Operators of speed boats and jet skis should exercise due care when navigating in narrow waterways, such as river channels, and proceed at safe speed at all times.
Reporting misconduct
Any person wishing to make a report concerning the apparent mishandling or excessive speed of a vessel may do so by calling the Harbour Patrol Section of the Marine Department at telephone 2385 2791.
The person making such a report may be requested to confirm the details in writing and may be required to appear in court as a witness should the report subsequently result in a prosecution.
