Someone suggested the option of finding a spot of land, close enough to sea - where you could drag up your (house)boat. Then convert it so plumbing and such would suit a land life.
No more barnacles. Safe in a typhoon. Lots of room to live on. No sampan needed. Your own village house, in from the sea.
I don't know if it would be possible (or legal), but I like the thinking outside of the box. In this case, thinking outside of the water.
Squatting is illegal in HK. "On squatter control, the Government conducts regular patrols to deter illegal squatting on Government land and leased agricultural land"