Po Pin Chau Booking Pilot Starts Smoothly
HK01 · 6 SOURCES42 minutes ago6 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department began a real-name reservation pilot on September 5 for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail at East Dam in Sai Kung, after opening-day bookings had already reached about 60 percent before launch. By 10:10am on the first day, about 140 to 144 visitors had gone up the trail, fewer than the number booked, so officials released some unused places for on-site online registration. AFCD Director Leung Kin-ming (黎堅明) said the overall operation was broadly smooth, with traffic into East Dam also flowing well under police vehicle controls at Pak Tam Chung. Visitors interviewed on site said the booking and identity-check process was clear and quick, and some believed it could improve safety and reduce overcrowding.
Key Points
- The pilot runs from September 5 to October 7 on weekends, Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day Golden Week, covering the Po Pin Chau section at High Island Reservoir East Dam
- The system uses four two-hour sessions a day, each capped at 500 people, for a daily total of 2,000 places; Leung said about 1,500 had been booked for the first day.
- Before the launch, Klook showed the 9am and 11am sessions on September 5 were full, while 1pm and 3pm still had availability; another report said bookings had reached 60 percent overall.
- Successful visitors must arrive within their booked time slot and show both matching identification and an electronic QR code; AFCD staff checked documents at the entrance and stamped visitors' hands.
- The round trip is about 2 kilometres over rugged terrain and takes around two hours, with no supplies or shade along the route, so hikers are advised to carry water and sun protection.
Why It Matters
The first-day operation suggests the government is trying to manage one of Hong Kong's most crowded scenic hiking spots with a flexible system rather than a hard cap alone, releasing unused places when turnout falls short of bookings. AFCD has also said it will review after more than four weeks whether to adjust quotas, consider charging, or extend reservations to other popular sites, making this pilot a test case for access control at busy countryside attractions.
The first-day operation suggests the government is trying to manage one of Hong Kong's most crowded scenic hiking spots with a flexible system rather than a hard cap alone, releasing unused places when turnout falls short of bookings. AFCD has also said it will review after more than four weeks whether to adjust quotas, consider charging, or extend reservations to other popular sites, making this pilot a test case for access control at busy countryside attractions.