I THINK the time has come to put some curbs on party junks and make those who use them take responsibility for the devastation they wreak on Hong Kong's less accessible beaches.
Tung O (or Shek Pai Wan) on Lamma Island is a perfect case in point. The accumulated garbage on this large and spectacular, non-gazetted beach has reached dangerous (broken bottles and used hypodermics were in evidence over the recent long weekend) and outrageous levels.
In addition , a sizeable, impromptu garbage dump has materialised in a bamboo grove at the north end of the village of Yung Shu Ha. The residents of this village are more interested in collecting rental fees for dilapidated wooden beach shelters, sellingbottled beer and playing mahjong than keeping the beach clean.
Across the peninsula at Sham Wan, virtually accessible only by sea, the trash left by several seasons of parties piles up, unseen by all but the culprits. There are dozens of such spots on Hong Kong's coastline.
The garbage these party-goers throw overboard or leave in their wake is visible in the water of both gazetted and non-gazetted beaches, serving to degrade the water quality and create considerable swimming hazards for the unwary.
I suggest a substantial ''environmental clean-up tax'' be added to all party junk licences (renewed every year) to force responsibility where it belongs - the customers. It might also be helpful to deputise some willing boat owners to act as beach patrols. They could prevent parties from leaving these beaches until its hordes have cleaned up the entire area.