Photos: Local tourism keeps 'Symbol of Hong Kong' junk boat afloat

Built in 1955, boat was once owned by a fisherman who lived on the vessel with his family

Published: November 23, 2020 15:49 Reuters and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

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Hong Kong: The Dukling, a traditional Chinese junk boat frequently spotted around Hong Kong's picturesque Victoria Harbour, has readjusted its tour routes to survive the coronavirus pandemic, now mainly catering to locals. Image Credit: Reuters

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Built in 1955, the boat was once owned by a fisherman who lived on the vessel with his family. It has been used for harbour tours since the 1980s, and the current operator has run the service since 2014. Image Credit: Reuters

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Its 12 staff serve mainly foreign tourists looking to see Hong Kong's glitzy skyline from a different angle. Image Credit: Reuters

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But with the border all but shut for non-residents for roughly the past 10 months, Dukling Limited's director of business development, Charlotte Li, says foreign clients are virtually non-existent. Image Credit: Reuters

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"This disease has had a massive impact on the entire planet and Hong Kong is really dependent on trade and tourism, said Li, seated in the wooden boat. Image Credit: Reuters

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Visitor arrivals have been down 96-99% year-on-year for every month since February. At its peak Hong Kong received almost 7 million visitors per month. Image Credit: Reuters

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Still, Li has preserved about a third of the business by offering tours in Cantonese rather than English and sailing to more distant Hong Kong locations to attract more local residents. Image Credit: Reuters

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My kids love boats," said Edmund Kwok, a 36-year-old engineer, on a tour with his wife and two children. Image Credit: Reuters

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Traditional Chinese junk boats were originally used for fishing and transportation. Tourism has prompted more such boats to float across Victoria harbour, but many are believed to be just replicas. Image Credit: Reuters

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Image Credit: Reuters

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Photos: Local tourism keeps 'Symbol of Hong Kong' junk boat afloat

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