Po Pin Chau visitor cap overrun on National Day, almost half absent

The number of reserved visitors for Sai Kung’s Po Pin Chau on National Day reached 2,420,  exceeding the original official capacity limit of 2,000, yet only 1,160 people visited the spot, according to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

That came as the department announced on Aug. 21 that during the weekends, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the National Day “golden week” from Sept. 5 to Oct. 7, visitors must make an appointment in advance to visit the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung. 

Visitors must make a reservation via online travel agency Klook and present both the electronic confirmation and proof of identity to gain entry on the day of visit.

On the National Day, environmental NGO Greenpeace conducted a field visit, and said crowding and trail damage remained serious despite the booking system, it said in a statement.

Greenpeace called on the authorities to lower the daily quota of 2,000, prioritise repairs to damaged sections of the trail, and consider stronger measures such as seasonal closures or closing degraded segments during peak periods.

“In the long run, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Environment Bureau should implement cross-departmental cooperation to carry out carrying-capacity studies on ecologically sensitive sites across Hong Kong and formulate a conservation-first ecotourism policy,” it wrote.

Peng Liqing, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong, said while visitor caps are direct management tools, their actual effectiveness ultimately depends on quota calibration and visitor behavior management.

Before the policy was implemented, the East Dam—the starting point of Po Pin Chau—recorded a daily average of 2,900 visitors during this year’s May Day holiday, peaking at 5,700 in a single day, the AFCD said.

According to the Policy Address 2026, the visitor cap is set to not only enhance the visitor experience, but also alleviate ecological pressure. 

Xu Zhenci, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at HKU and his postgraduate fellow Sun Zounachuan, said Po Pin Chau is ecologically vulnerable because of its limited vegetation cover, highly exposed rocky shoreline, and spatially restricted coastal and marine habitats.

“Human activities can therefore amplify those vulnerabilities raised by the ecosystem composition of Po Pin Chau”, Xu added.

The AFCD had previously said it would deploy additional personnel and strengthen on-site management, while also using drones equipped with loudspeakers to conduct regular aerial monitoring of the area during the National Day golden week.

“During the holiday period, AFCD staff will step up patrols, publicity and education at the above popular hiking spots. If any violations are detected, enforcement action will be taken immediately against the offenders,” the AFCD said.