Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung and a reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):
 
Question:

     The Government has indicated in the 2026 Policy Address that upon conclusion of the trial of the online reservation system for visitors going to the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung, it will review the trial outcome and formulate a long-term country park management strategy. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the daily (i) number of visitors (with a breakdown listing the total number of visitors, as well as the respective numbers of visitors making advance reservations, making on-site reservations, and actually visiting Po Pin Chau); and (ii) number of vehicles (with a breakdown by vehicle class) entering the East Dam during the implementation of the reservation system; and how such figures compare with those for the top 10 days with the highest number of visitors prior to the implementation of such reservation system in 2026 (i.e. the numbers of visitors and vehicles of different classes entering the East Dam and Po Pin Chau);
 
(2) whether the Government, in its review of the reservation system, will consider introducing the concept of tourist attraction management at the East Dam, enhancing supporting facilities and integrating the reservation system for the Po Pin Chau Section with value-added services such as transport services and guided tours, so as to comprehensively enhance visitor experience; if so, of the details; and
 
(3) of the progress of the proposed study of the development of Pak Tam Chung as a green tourism hub put forward in the 2019 Policy Address; and how the Government will make good use of the transport interchange and the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre in Pak Tam Chung to implement the initiative?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     Hong Kong has diverse habitats and rich biodiversity. On the premise of respecting ecology and protecting the environment, the Government appropriately showcases to the public Hong Kong's valuable ecological resources, while at the same time minimising the potential impact that excessive visitors may have on the environment, ensuring that ecotourism and nature conservation go hand in hand.
      
     Regarding the recent significant increase in visitor numbers at popular attractions such as Sai Kung East Country Park during the Golden Week period, the Government has made advance interdepartmental deployment and co-ordination arrangements. In terms of overall co-ordination, the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, co-ordinates relevant policy bureaux and departments to make overall arrangements on visitor flow management, transport support, facility capacity, and publicity and education during the Golden Week period. Under the co-ordination of the working group, the relevant departments have formulated and implemented specific action plans according to their functions. Among them, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has formulated targeted measures on the management, nature conservation, and visitor education of the East Dam, while the Transport Department and relevant departments have deployed corresponding public transport services and management, to accommodate the overall crowd-management needs.
      
     To control visitor flow more effectively, protect the trails from excessive wear and tear, and enhance visitor experience, the AFCD has implemented a trial reservation system at the Po Pin Chau Section on weekends and the Mid-Autumn Festival in September and the National Day Golden Week in October this year. On days when reservations are required, from 9am to 5pm, there are four time slots, with each time slot lasting for two hours and a quota of 500 people for each time slot. The total daily quota is 2 000 people. During the trial period, the AFCD set up enquiry counters at Sai Kung Town Centre, Pak Tam Chung, and the entrance to the Po Pin Chau section to assist visitors in need. It also closely monitored visitor arrivals throughout to ensure the smooth implementation of the reservation system.
      
     In response to the Hon Yiu Pak-leung's question, upon consulting the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, our reply are as follows:

(1) During the implementation of the reservation system, the average daily number of visitors to East Dam was about 1 760, while the average daily number of registered visitors to Po Pin Chau section was about 960. As for the number of vehicles, on average, 129 minibuses and 396 taxis trips entered and exited the East Dam each day.
 
     As compared with the peak days without the trial reservation system, the reservation system successfully controlled the visitor numbers and dispersed visitor flow, making the visitor management of carrying capacity of the East Dam and Po Pin Chau section more orderly. Specifically, during the 2026 Chinese New Year and Labor Day Golden Week periods, the Po Pin Chau section received an average of 2 000 visitors per day; during the National Day Golden Week when the reservation system was implemented, visitor numbers were effectively kept to an average of about 950 per day, and visitor flow was noticeably smoother. The reservation system also effectively controlled the number of visitors at the Po Pin Chau viewing platform. During the period, the highest visitor flow recorded at the viewing platform was successfully reduced by more than 30 per cent compared with the past, greatly easing overcrowding. Overall, visitor numbers at the East Dam during the Golden Week were lower than in the past, and the visitor experience was therefore significantly enhanced.
      
     Visitors mainly arrived in the morning. As the reservation system effectively kept the number of visitors within 500 per time slot, visitor flow on the trail was dispersed in an orderly manner, and visitors were able to tour in a more comfortable and safe environment without overcrowding. Implementation experience shows that by effectively controlling the visitor numbers and diverting visitor flow, the reservation system not only reduced the wear and tear caused by visitors to the natural environment but also significantly improved the overall visitor experience. For detailed figures (including the 10 single days with the highest visitor numbers in 2026 before the reservation system was implemented), please refer to Annex.

(2) The purpose of the reservation system is to control visitor numbers and divert visitor flow, strengthen conservation of the natural environment, and help enhance the visitor experience. Based on observations during the trial period, the reservation system generally operated smoothly, and on-site order was good. The public and general opinion supported the measure and considered the booking process simple and easy to use. According to on-site visitor surveys conducted by the AFCD, most visitors were satisfied with the reservation system. We are now conducting a comprehensive review of the trial results, studying in-depth the effectiveness of the reservation system as a crowd management measure, summarising practical operational experience to identify areas for further improvement, and considering whether a fee may be imposed. We will announce in due course after completing the review.
 
(3) The 2019 Policy Address proposed studying the development of Pak Tam Chung into a green tourism hub. Subsequently, the Tourism Commission, together with the AFCD, conducted a preliminary planning study on this. The consultant pointed out that there were traffic constraints in the Pak Tam Chung area, including inadequate public transportation facilities and traffic congestion at the barrier gate, and recommended improving the facilities and services of Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Center to accommodate visitors' needs.
 
     Pak Tam Chung and the roads to and from the East Dam are inside countryside, with some sections being single-lane. The limited environmental space and road carrying capacity are insufficient to safely and orderly support a large number of visitors arriving. Therefore, we will continue to keep visitor numbers at a level that the ecological environment and facilities can sustain through crowd management and public transport arrangements. As the venue manager of country parks, the AFCD will review and upgrade the facilities and services of the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Center to enhance visitor experience.
      
     Subject to resource availability, the AFCD will progressively enhance the visitor center, including updating exhibits and information displays, adding visitor-friendly facilities such as water dispensers, recycling points, and rest areas, thereby enhancing the practicality and comfort of the visitor center as a starting point for countryside outings. The AFCD will also explore providing suitable retail or equipment rental services to encourage visitors to enjoy countryside activities in a more environmentally friendly and lightweight manner.

Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:40

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