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We all love a lazy afternoon on the shore, but there’s only so much sandcastle building and sun-induced napping one can do. Thankfully, the government is looking to dial up the excitement on our coastlines with a pilot scheme that will inject a little more action to three of the city’s public beaches.
Following the roadmap laid out in the 2025 Policy Address, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is currently looking for private operators to take over the reins at Big Wave Bay Beach, Butterfly Beach, and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach – each selected for its potential to host more than just the usual weekend crowds. According to LCSD director Manda Chan, the vision is for multiple operators to manage a range of activities across the three beaches, including everything from large-scale concerts and beach parties to international water sports competitions and boutique festivals.
And if you’re worried about your casual Sunday dip becoming a ticketed affair, fret not. Chan has been quick to reassure the public that access to these beaches will remain completely free. While you might have to pay for specific activities, like front-row seats at a concert or water sports equipment, the actual sand and surf will remain open to everyone.
LCSD also stressed that any new commercial activities must be priced at affordable, reasonable levels so that both locals and tourists will be able to engage in these new experiences. Operators will also have to follow strict guidelines and meet specific KPIs, monitoring factors such as the number of event attendees, overall safety, environmental impact, and how well these events will boost the local economy by driving more foot traffic to nearby shops and restaurants.
The government is currently inviting interested parties to submit their proposal documents by June 18. If all goes well at these first three locations, we could see the model rolled out to other beaches across the territory. Watch this space to see what’s coming next – in the meantime, we’re off to look for a swimsuit that could potentially withstand a mosh pit.
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