Yacht brings troubled waters to HK

The berthing of Russian super yacht Nord in Victoria Harbor has pitted Hong Kong against the United States on a direct collision course.

Hong Kong, which has nothing to do with Moscow's brutal war in Ukraine, could have steered clear of trouble by maintaining a safe distance from the war zones.

That would best serve the city's interest.

Nord's appearance in the harbor is not only unwelcome, but has also disrupted the peace.

Because of its close links to sanctioned Russian steel mogul Alexei Mordashov, the vessel is a prime target of sanctions led by the US.

Although Nord has quickly become an iconic sight, companies with business here are looking worriedly at the ship.

If the administration does not move quickly to cool the situation, could the standoff between the SAR and US escalate into a new crisis affecting the city, including its financial stability?

This must be avoided.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is angry and defiant, laughing off warnings by the Americans.

Lee has to react in such a way. On one hand, he personally is a victim of separate sanctions led by the US. On the other hand, before him is an incident believed to be outside his control.

Although Nord's visit may be viewed as a marine matter, it bears the significance of foreign affairs in view of the yacht owner's close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the controversy surrounding it.

It is true that Lee can do little about it. Hong Kong's role in the event is rather passive. Worse still, the longer Nord is moored here, the greater the damage that will be done.

It will be in Hong Kong's best interests to see Nord sail away on its own - and the sooner the better, as with Edward Snowden, the American former computer intelligence consultant wanted by the US government for leaking highly classified information from the National Security Agency in 2013.

At that time, the US government requested Hong Kong to extradite Snowden to the US. Following that, he fled Hong Kong before reappearing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport.

In any clash, the rise in rhetoric can be dangerous, as is happening with the Nord.

The vessel's whereabouts has always been a sensitive subject in light of Russia's war in Ukraine.

After its port call captured international news headlines, the Hong Kong government apparently tried to react to the reports with a low-profile comment from the Marine Department.

The rhetoric began to pick up momentum after a British newspaper quoted some unnamed US officials as warning the SAR against providing a safe haven for Russian assets.

Instead of a Marine Department spokesman, a Hong Kong government spokesman stepped in to refute the Americans. Then, the US officially made the warning via a State Department spokesman, no longer some unnamed officials.

Yesterday, Lee publicly laughed off the warnings as "nothing." What will the US say next?

Here's something to ponder: if the yacht actually dropped its anchor without invitation, could Russian capital also flow uninvited into the SAR's financial system?

If this happened, it certainly would not be something that could be easily laughed off.