Consortium gets another five years running Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

The government said that they have offered a 5-year extension to Worldwide Cruise Terminals Consortium over the leasing of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal till May 2028, according to the leasing agreement.  

Speaking at a virtual Legislative Council meeting on Tuesday, commissioner for tourism Vivian Sum Fong-kwang said the extension came as authorities wanted to ensure the terminal’s operational continuity.  

The extension could also see cruise lines that wish to operate in Hong Kong use the terminal.  

Commerce chief Edward Yau Tang-wah also told the same meeting that Hong Kong should embrace the fact that there would be no foreign travelers in the short run.  

Meanwhile, lawmakers slammed the government’s strict Covid rules, including a ban on “cruise to nowhere” trips.  

Since the ban came into force in January, cruise line Royal Caribbean has canceled its local “cruises to nowhere” and moved its Spectrum of the Seas vessel to Singapore, while another operator, Dream Cruises, said it no longer has the financial capacity to keep things running, thus, ceased operations of its World Dream vessel.  

Lawmakers also found the 21-day suspension imposed on cruises too harsh, given the suspension would kick in for any positive cases detected. 

In response, Yau acknowledged the difficulties cruise operators faced in the short run, adding that the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau would work with health authorities according to the latest Covid situation.  

Yau also noted the city’s plan of promoting multi-destination travel within the Greater Bay Area in the future would bring massive income to the industry.