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Coral Sea Ferry Sai Wan Ho - Sam Ka Tsuen Route

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Coral Sea Ferry Service Sai Wan Ho – Sam Ka Tsuen Route operates between Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier and Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier (some sailings on holidays also call at Lei Yue Mun Landing Steps). It is a Cross-harbour route operated by Coral Sea Ferry, with a journey time of about 10 minutes.

History[]

Background[]

In February 1972, Yaumati Ferry was granted the exclusive franchise to operate ferry services between Shau Kei Wan and Kwun Tong, and between Shau Kei Wan and Sam Ka Tsuen. However, due to the lack of pier facilities at both Shau Kei Wan and Sam Ka Tsuen, services did not commence until mid-1973.[1]

On 21 May 1973, Mr Lau Ting-chung of Yaumati Ferry telephoned the Commissioner for Transport to state that the company intended to begin service on 1 July to replace that of Rymo Motorboat Company. The company planned to use 260-passenger fibreglass vessels, lighter than water taxis, with a journey time of 10 minutes instead of the proposed 15.[2]

  • May 1972 – Temporarily operated by Yau Kee Motor Boat Co.
  • June 1972 – Temporarily operated by Yaumati Ferry.
  • 1 January 1973 – Temporarily operated by Rymo Motorboat Company, with a 10-minute headway.
  • 2 July 1973 – Yaumati Ferry officially took over using “Water Bus” vessels.
  • 4 October 1983 – The Hong Kong Island landing point moved to Sai Wan Ho (East) Pier.
  • 1 April 1984 – The Sai Wan Ho landing moved to West Pier.[3]

Change of Operator[]

After the opening of the Eastern Harbour Crossing in 1989, passenger numbers on the Kwun Tong–Sai Wan Ho and this route dropped sharply, the latter falling from 7,000 daily in 1973 to just 1,300 in 1991. In April that year, the operator applied to discontinue the routes to cut losses.[4] At the annual general meeting on 26 April 1991, the General Manager of Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry announced acceptance of the Transport Department’s proposal to cancel the Kwun Tong–Sai Wan Ho and this route by year-end.[5][6] The Executive Council approved termination of the Sai Wan Ho–Sam Ka Tsuen and related Sai Wan Ho–Kwun Tong Vehicular ferry and passenger ferry routes on 31 July.[7]

  • 1 March 1992 – Coral Sea Ferry Service took over operation under a licence using small vessels.[8]
  • 20 October 2013 – Timetable adjustment.[9]
  • Late July 2014 – Due to rising operating costs and stagnant ridership, the operator announced its intention to apply to the Transport Department to cease the service by the end of 2014.[10]
  • 4 January 2015 – Fare adjusted to $9.[11]
  • 4 March–14 April 2022 – Service reduced during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 15 December 2024 – Free travel for residents of the “Aroma Coast” development at Yau Tong under a collaboration between the operator and the property developer.[12]
  • 28 June 2025 – On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, some sailings detour via Lei Yue Mun Landing Steps.[13]

Historical Data[]

For previous schedules, sailings, and fares, see Past Service Information.

Timetable[]

  • Seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis, passengers please wait for the next sailing when the current sailing is full.
  • All weekday sailings and weekend/public holiday sailings departing before 11:00 do not call at Lei Yue Mun.
Departing from Sai Wan Ho
Hour Minutes
Monday–Friday
07 12, 36
08 00, 24, 48
09–22 15, 45
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
07 12, 36
08 00, 24, 48
09–10 15, 45
Departing from Sam Ka Tsuen
Hour Minutes
Monday–Friday
07 00, 24, 48
08 12, 36
09–22 00, 30
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
07 00, 24, 48
08 12, 36
09–10 00, 30
11 00
  • After 11:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, some sailings call at Lei Yue Mun.
Sai Wan Ho → Lei Yue Mun → Sam Ka Tsuen → Sai Wan Ho
Sai Wan Ho dep. Lei Yue Mun dep. Sam Ka Tsuen dep.
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
11:15→ 11:24→ 11:30→
11:45→ →→ 12:00→
12:15→ 12:24→ 12:30→
12:45→ →→ 13:00→
13:15→ 13:24→ 13:30→
13:45→ →→ 14:00→
14:15→ 14:24→ 14:30→
14:45→ →→ 15:00→
15:15→ 15:24→ 15:30→
15:45→ →→ 16:00→
16:15→ 16:24→ 16:30→
16:45→ →→ 17:00→
17:15→ 17:24→ 17:30→
17:45→ →→ 18:00→
18:15→ 18:24→ 18:30→
18:45→ →→ 19:00→
19:15→ 19:24→ 19:30→
19:45→ →→ 20:00→
20:15→ 20:24→ 20:30→
20:45→ →→ 21:00→
21:15→ 21:24→ 21:30→
21:45→ →→ 22:00→
22:15→ 22:24→ 22:30→
22:45→ →→ /
Remarks
  • The times listed above are pier closing times (except when ferry tickets are sold out in advance).

Template:Sai Wan Ho – Sam Ka Tsuen Route Map

Fare Table[]

Ordinary Ferry Service
Adult $9.0
Child $4.5
Elderly & Disabled
(Cash)
Elderly & Eligible Persons with Disabilities
(Elderly Octopus / JoyYou Card)		 $2.0
Bicycle $5.0
Cargo (per 60 kg or 0.12 m³) $10.0


Fare remarks
  • This route has adult and concessionary fares (Child, Senior and Disabled) and the fare payable is as shown above.
  • Children aged 0 to 11 can enjoy half-fare concession/fare discount.
  • Elderly aged 65 or above can enjoy half-fare concession/fare discount.
  • Holders of Registration Card for People with Disabilities can enjoy half-fare concession/fare discount.
  • Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above using JoyYou Card, as well as eligible persons with disabilities aged less than 60 paying the fare with their "Persons with Disabilities" personalised Octopus card can enjoy a flat concessionary fare of $2.0; beneficiaries aged 65 or above will only need to pay the original concessionary fare if the concessionary fare after half-price discount of the regular fare for senior citizens or eligible persons with disabilities is less than $2.0. If the original full fare for Hong Kong residents aged between 60 and 64 is already below $2.0, the beneficiary only needs to pay the original full fare.
  • This route has joined the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, in which passengers paying their fare by Octopus cards will be included in the calculation of the subsidy.
  • Passengers should tender fare by cash or by Octopus card at the pier or upon embarkation. No change will be given.
  • This route has goods and bicycle fares.
  • Children under 90 cm in height are entitled to half fare.
  • All passengers must pay their fare at Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier before boarding in either direction.
  • Residents of “Aroma Coast” with valid resident cards may travel free upon Octopus verification at Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier.

Vessels Used[]

This route is served by one two-deck wooden ferry named “Coral Sea 18A” (Certificate of Ownership No. A3903), with a capacity of 105 passengers. In December 2016, Coral Sea Ferry refurbished the vessel in the style of a traditional fishing boat, repainting the hull for an authentic appearance.[14]

The operator may also deploy “Coral Sea 18” (Certificate of Ownership No. A4903) when required.

Passenger Usage[]

Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier is near the Lei Yue Mun seafood restaurant cluster and relatively far from Yau Tong Station. Despite a 30-minute headway, the route retains moderate patronage. However, both termini are away from major business areas, making this one of the least patronised cross-harbour routes, with daily patronage ranging from just over 200 to 800 passengers.[15]

  • 1964 – Annual ridership: 2.7 million.[16]
  • 1990 – After opening of the Eastern Harbour Crossing, daily patronage fell to 2,650 (a 46% drop).[17]
  • 2008 – Average daily ridership: 600.[18]
  • 2015 – Average daily ridership: 500.[18]
  • 2023 – Media reports estimated up to 800 passengers per day.[19]

Incidents[]

  • 3 July 2022 – Around 11 a.m., a man fell overboard while taking selfies near the edge of the ferry bound for Sai Wan Ho. Other passengers alerted authorities, and a fireboat rescued the conscious man at the scene.[20]

Others[]

In April 2023, local media interviewed the ferry’s captain and crew to document a day in their working life.[21]

Gallery[]

Crystal Clear mimetype image
More pictures, photos and related information about this article are available in the following Gallery Page:
Coral Sea Ferry Sai Wan Ho - Sam Ka Tsuen Route(Edit)


See also[]

Notes and References[]

  1. ↑ Hong Kong Government Transport Department, Annual Departmental Report 1972–73, p. 13.
  2. ↑ Transport Branch, Colonial Secretariat, “Shau Kei Wan/Kwun Tong & Shau Kei Wan/Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Services” [File], 26 July 1971 – 28 September 1981. Public Records Office reference: HKRS461-1-17-3.
  3. ↑ Ta Kung Pao, “Sai Wan Ho–Central Ferry Route Cancelled; Other Service Moved to Sam Ka Tsuen”, 27 March 1984.
  4. ↑ Template:NRC
  5. ↑ Template:NRC
  6. ↑ Template:NRC
  7. ↑ Hong Kong Government, "Executive Council Approves Termination of Four Loss-making Routes" [Press Release], 31 July 1991.
  8. ↑ Hong Kong Government, "Termination of Three Ferry Services" [Press Release], 28 February 1992.
  9. ↑ Transport Department: Adjustment of Sai Wan Ho–Sam Ka Tsuen Licensed Ferry Service
  10. ↑ http://news.tvb.com/local/53ccfe7b6db28cf06b000004/
  11. ↑ http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/tc/content_13/FPD/gazette%20notice%20swh-kt%2020150104_chi.pdf
  12. ↑ “Aroma Coast Ferry Service Commences – Over 440 Units Sold”, Hong Kong Economic Times, 16 December 2024.
  13. ↑ Transport Department: Service Adjustment Notice, 26 June 2025
  14. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/coralseaferryservice/posts/1645253112440389
  15. ↑ [1]
  16. ↑ [2]
  17. ↑ Eastern District Council, Traffic & Transport Committee Paper No. 60/90, November 1990.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Legislative Council Research Brief: Waterborne Transport Services in Selected Places, 4 April 2019
  19. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlnXjOX4X50&t=44s
  20. ↑ https://www.hk01.com/%E7%AA%81%E7%99%BC/788492/
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlnXjOX4X50

External links[]

Disambig
To facilitate quoting and enquiries, the following redirect page(s) will direct to this page:

Coral Sea Ferry Sam Ka Tsuen - Sai Wan Ho Route and Coral Sea Ferry Lei Yue Mun - Sai Wan Ho Route
V · T · E
Cross-harbour routes
Star Ferry
Central ↔ Tsim Sha Tsui • Wan Chai ↔ Tsim Sha Tsui
Sun Ferry
North Point ↔ Kowloon City • North Point ↔ Hung Hom
Fortune Ferry
Central ↔ Hung Hom • North Point ↔ Kwun Tong (↔ Kai Tak) • Water Taxi
Coral Sea Ferry
Sai Wan Ho ↔ Kwun Tong • Sai Wan Ho ↔ Lei Yue Mun(Sam Ka Tsuen)
Outlying Island Route • Kaito Route • Cross-Border Route
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