Permit still required to enter Mai Po marshes following partial removal of Mai Po Frontier Closed Area

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     To facilitate public access to Mai Po, the Government has, with effect from today (July 24), excluded part of Mai Po from the Frontier Closed Area. Members of the public are no longer required to apply for a Closed Area Permit from the Police when entering that area. However, Mai Po and its adjacent marshes remain a Restricted Area under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) (the Ordinance). Members of the public are still required to hold a valid permit issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to enter these areas, in accordance with the Ordinance.

     A spokesperson for the AFCD stated that Mai Po and its adjacent marshes, including the Mai Po Nature Reserve, form the core area of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, which is a highly ecologically sensitive zone that provides crucial feeding and staging habitats for large numbers of wintering and migratory waterbirds. Activities permitted within the Restricted Area must align with conservation objectives, such as birdwatching, conservation, education, and scientific research. Applicants are required to submit a written application to the AFCD, together with relevant supporting documents or written statements demonstrating their eligibility. Details of the permit application are available on the AFCD webpage.

     In addition, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF-HK), which assists in managing the Mai Po Nature Reserve, together with other non-profit organisations, regularly organises guided tours and related activities. These activities are approved in advance by the AFCD, and participants are not required to apply separately for a permit. The AFCD encourages members of the public and visitors to join such activities to access the area.

     The spokesperson emphasised that warning signs and banners have been placed at the main entrance of the Mai Po Nature Reserve to remind the public that the site is a Restricted Area. The AFCD will also step up patrols and take resolute enforcement action against any unauthorised entry. Under the Ordinance, any person who enters a Restricted Area without permission is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000.

     The AFCD will maintain close communication and collaboration with the WWF-HK and take into account the views of other stakeholders to effectively manage the number of visitors to the Mai Po Nature Reserve. The AFCD will also enhance arrangements for public visits to the Mai Po Nature Reserve, promote guided tours and other activities suitable for both the public and visitors, thereby enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of this internationally important wetland.

Ends/Friday, July 24, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

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