The stateroom aboard the new CKS “riverboat” plying Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour

State-owned ferry company CKS has launched a new harbour sightseeing trip, using a Guangzhou-style river-cruise ship and offering 90-minute “Symphony of Lights” tours for HK$300 per person from the Water Taxi berth in Hung Hom.

The latest move cements CKS’ broad ambitions for the city, after its acquisition of New World First Ferry in 2020, subsequently rebranded as Sun Ferry, and its investment in the Water Taxi business.

The new cruiser at the CKS Hung Hom pier

The firm says it has grand ambitions for Hong Kong, throwing its weight behind electoral reform and claiming its “practical actions” will “help stabilize the foundation of ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’.”

Speaking a month before it was granted Hong Kong’s first Water Taxi tender, the firm said state-owned companies had a role to play in bringing stability to the city.

“In the critical period of Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to governance, CKS will implement the important decisions and deployments of the central government and the HK SAR government,” said the company in June.

The new service will complement the Water Taxi service, which runs just once a week along a fixed route.