Visiting the popular Po Pin Chau trail in Hong Kong’s geopark will require real-name reservations under a pilot scheme aimed at preventing scalping and no-shows, officials have told lawmakers concerned about its effectiveness.
Undersecretary for Environment and Ecology Diane Wong Shuk-han told the Legislative Council subcommittee on ecology and tourism on Monday that authorities would not use a first-come-first-served model and were studying a ballot mechanism to prevent scalping.
“We will consider real-name registration,” Wong said. “If someone makes a reservation but does not show up, when they make a reservation again in the future, we will know through real-name registration who has previously failed to turn up, and we will handle it appropriately.”
The proposals were first drawn up after visitor numbers at the Po Pin Chau section of Sai Kung East Country Park, also part of a globally recognised geopark, hit carrying capacity at peak periods during the mainland’s recent Labour Day “golden week” holiday, with some trail sections showing wear and tear since the viewpoint opened in 2024.
“We hope the change will not be too abrupt,” said Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology Fabia Tam Cheuk-chi. “We first want everyone to get used to the idea that visiting certain spots requires some advance arrangement.”
Fees would be considered only after authorities review the pilot’s effectiveness, she said, adding that they would start the reservation system as early as possible.
Until then, authorities will continue relying on temporary crowd-control queues at the East Dam viewing platform during peak periods, real-time visitor updates on the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department website, and stepped-up patrols to manage the tourist influx.