appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Harvey Kong

Hong Kong may introduce pilot schemes for booking campsites before the National Day holiday in October, as authorities revealed that 32 people were prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over the Chinese New Year holiday.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that most of those prosecuted were non-locals charged with littering.
Authorities had earlier said they were considering implementing a booking system and charging fees for camping hotspots to address public concerns about overcrowded beaches and litter during the festive period.
Greenpeace had called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Sai Kung after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Chinese New Year, with its members observing various “damaging deeds”.
Tse said authorities wanted to test various management methods on a pilot basis because the new charging or reservation system would be vastly different from the measures applied to most country park sites run by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
“This aims to gain experience and evaluate the pros and cons of different approaches and help formulate a long-term implementation plan,” he said.
Tse added that authorities hoped to launch the pilot schemes as soon as possible, with the measures expected to be unveiled no later than mainland China’s National Day “golden week” holiday in October.

Asked why authorities would not consider extending the existing booking mechanism for the Twisk Campsite at Tai Lam Country Park – the only one in Hong Kong with a reservation system – to all other campsites, Tse explained that one reason was authorities wanted to give visitors time to adapt to a new system.
“If Hong Kong suddenly implements a booking system in one day where people would not be allowed to enter campsites without booking, it would definitely cause a chaotic situation,” he said.
Tse said the test sites would raise awareness of the new system among visitors and help authorities determine the best approach to operating their campsites.
The environment minister also revealed the AFCD had prosecuted 32 people for various offences at Sai Kung’s country parks during the Chinese New Year golden week period between February 14 and 23, of whom 27 were non-locals and five were residents.
Tse said the offences occurred at the High Island Reservoir’s popular East Dam, as well as the first and second sections of the MacLehose Trail.
Of the 27 non-locals, 16 were involved in littering, eight in spitting and three in starting fires outside designated areas.
Of the five residents, three were involved in illegal cycling, one had started a fire outside permitted areas and one was caught littering.
Ha Shun-kuen, a campaigner with Greenpeace, said authorities should conduct an assessment of carrying capacities of the various campsites and roll out the system swiftly.
“It can be said that the government is already many steps behind,” he said, noting that the consequences were not limited to damage already done to the environment, but also a mismatch in the deployment of resources.
He added that Greenpeace had already asked for a comprehensive policy on the East Dam as early as May 2025, stressing the need to develop a broader ecotourism strategy.


Hong Kong aims to raise zero-carbon energy share of fuel mix to 30% by 2030

Hong Kong must prepare for the impact of heat-related work stoppages

Hong Kong urged to overhaul ecotourism planning and expand bookings for hotspots

Cathay Pacific, Google scale up AI tests to reduce aviation’s climate impact

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to test new campsite booking system amid overcrowding, litter concerns

Greenpeace has called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Sai Kung after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Chinese New Year. Photo: Greenpeace

Authorities have said 32 people were prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s countryside over the Chinese New Year holiday. Photo: Greenpeace

Hong Kong wetland records 40 times more petroleum after oil spill: Greenpeace

Seventy per cent of the 18 soil and water samples collected from affected wetlands in South Lantau’s Pui O showed significantly higher petroleum hydrocarbon levels, a study has found. Photo: Handout

A research team conducted two rounds of TRH testing and analysis in September and December at oil-affected wetlands near Lo Uk Village in Pui O. Photo: Handout

An oil spill in September has tainted South Lantau’s Pui O wetlands. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong urged to protect Sai Kung islands from overtourism, ecological damage

A site inspection by Greenpeace found that 4,062 people landed on Sharp Island on Wednesday, the first day of the National Day “golden week” holiday. Photo: Handout

Greenpeace says an “excessive number of tourists” also gathered for snorkelling near Sharp Island, with some “trampling directly on the coral surface”. Photo: Handout

Crowds at campsites ‘not out of control’: Hong Kong conservation authorities

Greenpeace recorded 585 tents in two Sai Kung campsites – Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan – last Wednesday, which significantly exceeded the recommended capacity of 50 tents per site. Photo: Greenpeace

An AFCD officer reminds a group of campers to keep the environment clean at Ham Tin Wan beach on Saturday. Photo: Edmond So

Green group calls for action after Hong Kong campsites packed

Greenpeace says it counted 585 tents at the Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites. Photo: Greenpeace

The campers had left the area by the following morning. Photo: Handout

Greenpeace said bins were overflowing and campers had left rubbish on the ground. Photo: Greenpeace

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday


Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday.


Hong Kong to test new campsite booking system amid overcrowding, litter concerns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday

Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday