Visitors removed crabs from Hong Kong's Sharp Island tombolo during Labour Day golden week

About a dozen visitors were seen removing small crabs and shells from a tombolo on Hong Kong's Sharp Island on Friday, the first day of mainland China's five-day Labour Day "golden week" break, prompting conservation officers and volunteers to confront them and issue warnings. At around 3.30pm on Friday, a South China Morning Post reporter observed the visitors, often accompanied by their families, collecting crabs and shells along the narrow sandbar connecting the island's two landmasses. "We already know we can't take the crabs away [from the island] since I checked the local regulations beforehand," said a 42-year-old mainland tourist surnamed Chen, who was approached by WWF-Hong Kong staff after his son was spotted collecting crabs. The boy released the animals after the family was approached. "The officers' action was effective. No one would come again if the place was damaged," Chen said. Authorities have stepped up patrols and education efforts on the island in Sai Kung, in anticipation of increased footfall over the break. While the holiday lasts for five days on the mainland, Hongkongers only get May 1, which falls on a Friday this year, off.