Authorities are mulling to ban taxis driving to the High Island Reservoir East Dam, a scenic hotspot especially popular among mainland visitors, on weekends, public holidays and all mainland golden weeks between 9am and 6pm, according to sources.
In a document submitted to the Sai Kung District Council last night, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department proposed the new measure, which would start implementing from September 13, sources revealed.
In a rare practice, it was reportedly circulated internally for district councilors' reference. Authorities plan to release more details to the public in late August and are explaining the arrangements to stakeholders and conducting consultations.
Under the new measure, taxis are restricted from entering or using Sai Kung Man Yee Road during the peak visit days. The department would then enhance services of the green minibus 9A route, the would-be only public transport running between East Dam and Pak Tam Chung, depending on passenger volume.
Additionally, the department will optimize and reconfigure the layout of parking bays at the Pak Tam Chung Bus Terminus, where commuters can take public transport to head out back to urban areas, so that there would be more space for taxis to pick-up and drop-off passengers.
During restricted hours in which taxis are banned from driving into the road leading to the East Dam, the designated parking bay will be reserved exclusively for taxi pick-ups and drop-offs from 8am to 4pm, with no waiting allowed.
Earlier this year, during weekends, the area around the East Dam would see hundreds of people lining up for transport, with some taxi drivers reportedly demanding over HK$1,000 in fares. Some tourists even risked safety climbing steep rocky shores.
At the time, the Transport Department had already requested operators of green minibus route 9A to deploy extra vehicles to increase trips and ensure all passengers were transported back to Pak Tam Chung before ending operations.
Subsequently, during the Labour Day golden week holiday in May, the government arranged for enhanced minibus services between Pak Tam Chung and the East Dam.
Lawmaker for New Territories South East Connie Lam So-wai welcomed the measures and expressed hope that they can manage the expected surge in visitors during the upcoming National Day.
She also suggested authorities further streamline regulations to improve transport efficiency, particularly around popular tourist sites, including issuing fixed-quota permits for non-franchised buses, allowing them to operate shuttle services between border checkpoints and East Dam.
High Island Geo Trail lies beside the beautiful High Island Reservoir — created after two large dams blocked a narrow channel between High Island and the eastern side of Sai Kung Peninsula.
The area, situated within Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, is home to breathtaking rock landscapes of international geological importance formed when a supervolcano erupted 140 million years ago.
Signs dotting the leisurely trail offer insights into Instagram-friendly delights including towering cliff faces lined with hexagonal rock columns, mysterious caves and sea stacks and — atop Biu Tsim Kok hill — stunning coastal scenery, such as picturesque Long Ke Wan.
