Po Pin Chau hike quota scheme sees slow start ahead of Golden Week surge

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has introduced a trial booking system for the Po Pin Chau section at the High Island East Dam in Sai Kung, with about 10 percent of quotas booked on its first day of registration.

Speaking on a radio program today, Assistant Director of the department Esther To Man-wai said the system opened yesterday for bookings on September 5 and September 6. As of 6pm yesterday, average bookings reached about 10 percent, mainly concentrated between 9am and 1pm.

To said the low initial response was due to early publicity and hot weather in early September. She expected visitor numbers to climb closer to the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Golden Week in October.

The trial system aims to protect mountain trails, enhance visitor experience, and test trail capacity. Considering factors such as past holiday crowd sizes, trail length, and visitor behavior, authorities set a daily quota of 2,000 slots.

Visitors without prior bookings can register online on-site if quotas remain, with information booths and staff available to assist. Unused slots from no-shows will also be released dynamically based on demand.

Addressing concerns over the lack of exit time limits, To explained that the 2km round trip takes under two hours for most people. As the open trail offers little shade, visitors rarely linger long. Staff will manage crowds at viewing platforms and urge visitors to leave after taking photos.

No penalties or fees will be introduced during the trial phase to allow the public to adapt to real-name online bookings gradually. Visitors can cancel reservations up to 48 hours in advance, and the department will monitor attendance before deciding on future penalty or fee policies.

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