The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported a modest turnout on the first day of its reservation trial for the Po Pin Chau trail located in Sai Kung East Country Park.

As of 6pm on Monday, about 200 of the 2,000 daily slots had been booked for September 5 and 6 – representing just 10 percent of the quota.

Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Tuesday, Esther To, an assistant director at the department, attributed the sluggish take-up to the ongoing summer heat.

"It might be because the weather is still quite hot, so the number of visitors is definitely going to be lower. We expect that the number will only start to pick up around the Mid-Autumn Festival or the October Golden Week," she said.

The pilot scheme, which requires visitors to register using their real names, is designed to protect the trail’s natural environment, enhance the overall visitor experience, and assess the site's carrying capacity, according to To.

She noted that the 2,000-slot daily limit was set based on past foot traffic during Golden Week holidays, the trail’s length, and typical visitor behaviour patterns – factors she believes make the quota appropriate.

When asked whether the absence of a time limit could lead to overcrowding, To explained that the round-trip route at Po Pin Chau spans roughly two kilometres and is typically completed within two hours.

She added that during the Labour Day Golden Week in May, the department had already introduced crowd control measures at popular viewpoints.

"If too many people gather there for photos, we would direct them to keep moving. Essentially, most people gather at the photo spot, take their pictures, and then follow the trail down," she said.

"They rarely linger in between because the area is exposed – it's either too hot, too windy, or even rainy, so they tend to come down after taking their photos."

Regarding the lack of penalties for no-shows or a fee structure, To said the department is taking a gradual approach, as country parks have historically operated without charges.

She encouraged visitors to cancel their reservations at least 48 hours in advance if their plans change.

Through the pilot scheme, the department will monitor no-show rates and later decide whether or not to introduce penalties or fees.


Edited by Aaron Tam