Hong Kong to pilot camping controls before National Day Golden Week

Hong Kong authorities plan to roll out trial measures to manage overcrowded camping sites before the National Day Golden Week, as the government explores introducing a reservation or fee-based system to better control visitor flow.

The move follows congestion and disorder observed at multiple camping hotspots during the Lunar New Year holiday, where large crowds led to problems including littering and illegal fires.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the LegCo on Wednesday that the government is conducting a comprehensive study that will take into account site conditions, ecological protection, visitor safety, access control and operational arrangements.

These include booking mechanisms, fee structures, whether real-name registration should be adopted, enforcement measures, supporting facilities and publicity plans.

Tse said authorities intend to adopt a pilot approach before full implementation.

“The AFCD plans to conduct trials to test different management methods and measures prior to implementation. This aims to gain experience and evaluate the pros and cons of different approaches and help formulate a long-term implementation plan.”

He added that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is reviewing specific proposals and has been tasked with launching the trial schemes before the National Day Golden Week.

Figures from the Lunar New Year holiday highlight the scale of the issue.

In Sai Kung’s country parks, enforcement action was taken against 32 suspected offenders at popular sites, including 27 non-local visitors and five local residents. Violations included littering, spitting, lighting fires outside designated areas and illegal cycling.

During the LegCo meeting, lawmaker Chris Ip Ngo-tung suggested introducing a territory-wide reservation system requiring visitors to register in advance, with penalties for those who fail to comply.

Tse said the government is considering registration or charging systems but warned against immediate full implementation. He said that if a reservation system were suddenly enforced, visitors arriving without prior booking could be turned away, leading to confusion and disruption.

He added that starting with pilot schemes would allow the government to gradually communicate new arrangements to the public while refining operational details.

As many of the proposed measures have not been implemented before, both visitors and authorities would need time to adapt, said Tse.

Separately, Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung asked whether the government would consider allowing reputable tourism operators or campsite management groups to run popular camping areas under a pilot scheme, introducing market forces to improve management and ease overcrowding.

Tse said this is one of the directions being explored.

While the government aims to align new measures with tourism development, manpower remains a constraint, especially as visitor numbers surge during holidays, he said.

He also noted that instead of increasing the number of civil servants, authorities are considering hiring temporary staff to assist during peak periods.

In the longer term, Tse said the government could explore introducing more market participation to help manage sites and regulate visitor flow, as part of a more systematic approach to countryside tourism.