Booking systems, visitor fees for natural sites considered after holiday crowds: AFCD

With the city's popular natural sites overwhelmed by holiday crowds and illegal camping, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is mulling introducing booking systems and fees for visitors.

The AFCD said it has launched a study to develop a long-term management strategy for the popular destinations after overtourism was reported at Sai Kung camping sites during the Lunar New Year holiday. The department said the findings and proposals are expected to be submitted to the Legislative Council in the latter half of the year.

The department stated it would draw on experiences from the Lunar New Year Golden Week holiday to consider various improvement measures, including whether to introduce booking systems and fees.

Despite the influx of visitors, the AFCD reported that overnight patrols at Sai Wan Campsite detected no illegal camping, and morning inspections at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan, and Long Ke Wan campsites revealed no significant damage. 

The situation at the East Dam area was described as being in line with expectations.

The department also revealed that, as of 11am on Sunday, 26 enforcement cases involving littering or illegal fires along two sections of the MacLehose Trail had been recorded. 

The AFCD emphasized its commitment to ongoing monitoring and enforcement efforts throughout the remainder of the holiday period.