There are 2,000 places open every day and "there is still room"
Director of Fisheries and Conservation Lai Kin-ming, who was on site to inspect the operation of the reservation system, said yesterday afternoon that after considering the environmental conditions and analyzing previous Golden Week data, the Department believed that there is still room for opening 2,000 places per day, and hopes to review whether the quota needs to be adjusted after the entire trial arrangement is completed. Some people who attended the tour said that Po Pin Chau Trail and the observation deck were very crowded yesterday, and hoped that the department would clarify the calculation criteria for the upper limit of the number of people allowed.
Our reporter arrived at the site at about 7:45 yesterday morning. The reservation website Klook only had 1:00 and 3:00 pm time slots left for reservations. Banners could be seen along the route from Pak Tam Chung to High Island East Dam reminding tourists that they need to make a reservation before entering the Po Pin Chau Trail. Those who have made a reservation can display the QR code at the verification area next to the Po Pin Chau Trail entrance for AFCD staff to scan. The staff will then stamp the back of the registrant's hand. Those who have not made a reservation can check the Klook QR code at the information desk to confirm that there is remaining balance, and then scan the Klook QR code to register on the spot. Two department personnel were stationed at the entrance to the uphill section, and the department used drones to monitor the flow of people.
Pay attention to the flow of people during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day and check whether there is a quota fee
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has hung a banner on one side of the East Dam to guide tourists in the other direction to Long Ke Wan, hoping to divert traffic so that tourists who cannot visit Po Pin Chau Trail can visit Long Ke instead. At around 9 o'clock yesterday morning, Lai Kin-ming inspected the reservation registration process with the Legislative Council New Territories Southeast Member Yip Aodong and the Election Committee member Ho Chun-yin. Later, Lai said that the first day of trial operation of the reservation system was generally smooth. The department will pay special attention to the flow of people during the Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day Golden Week, etc., and then review the quota and whether it is necessary to divert and charge according to time periods.
Ye Aodong believes that there should be signs on the road from Pak Tam Chung to Dong Ba to inform tourists of the actual reservation status, and also suggests that the authorities increase the number of places according to individual days. He also suggested that the reservation system could be extended to camping hotspots. Later, New Territories Southeast Member of the Legislative Council and Sai Kung District Councilor Fong Kwok-shan, who arrived at the scene, suggested that the authorities could tighten the speed limit and add car shelters on the section from Pak Tam Chung to Tung Pa.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced on its social media platform yesterday evening that about 1,800 people had made reservations throughout the day. In the end, about 900 people registered to go up the mountain, including those who registered on the spot. When asked yesterday afternoon whether there would be any penalties for those who failed to make appointments, Lai Kin-ming said that an overall review would be conducted after the entire trial is completed. The department released 50 places at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning for tourists to register on the spot.
Hangzhou customer: I can charge one or two hundred
Mr. Chen, a tourist from Shenzhen, came to visit Po Bien Chau last autumn. He said that after the trial implementation of the reservation system, the crowds were not as crowded as last year. However, he believed that the authorities had to deal with the problem of large numbers of people "jumping out" and suggested that they be prohibited from making reservations for a period of time. He believes that Po Pin Chau is always a natural landscape and should not be charged.
Ms. Guo, a visitor to Hangzhou for the first time, supports charging and suggests charging 30 to 50 yuan per person. "I can do one hundred or two hundred (yuan), and I think I will come too." Mr. Zhang, a local cross-country runner, believes that even if he only charges tourists, it can also be used to produce cultural and creative souvenirs related to Po Bien Chau to promote Hong Kong.
Soil erosion on mountain trails and crowding at observation decks
The group hopes to clarify the capacity guidelines
Greenpeace project director Xia Chunquan, who was at the scene yesterday, believes that the Po Bien Chau Trail and the viewing platform are crowded, and the Po Bien Chau Trail is narrower than ordinary mountain trails. Soil erosion, potholes and vegetation reduction can be seen along the trails, which may affect the safety of tourists. He questioned the standards used by the government to calculate the daily maximum number of people allowed on the mountain trails, and hoped that the authorities would explain the criteria. He also hoped that the authorities would consider the carrying capacity of the ecological environment and consider whether there are active measures to restore the environment.
In addition, the police received a report about a man suspected of having heat stroke near Po Pin Chau Observation Deck at around 3pm yesterday. It is reported that a 63-year-old man surnamed Zhang went to Po Bien Chau from Dong Pa with his wife and a friend at about 11 o'clock yesterday morning. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, he felt unwell and called the police. The victim was flown to the Wan Chai helipad by a Flying Service helicopter and then transferred to Ruttonjee Hospital for treatment.
