Quota set for visitors to popular Sai Kung coastal trail in first for Hong Kong

Hong Kong authorities will cap access to a popular Sai Kung trail overlooking hexagonal rock columns at 2,000 people per day during several stretches from next month and require real-name registration for visitors, marking the city’s first countryside crowd control measures of its kind.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced the arrangement on Friday for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail, after the proposal was floated in April.

The trail is within the Unesco Global Geopark at Sai Kung East Country Park. No fees will be charged for the bookings or penalties for failing to turn up, at least for now.

“The primary reason for the arrangement is that we realise there are sudden increases in visitor numbers over holidays, and some of the capacity of certain sections is close to saturation,” department director Mickey Lai Kin-ming said.

“Through the reservation system, we hope to achieve organised crowd control and to prevent visitors from over concentrating, as well as to protect the environment and improve visitor experience.”

Lai said the move was aimed at protecting the narrow trail from “excessive wear and tear”, adding the quota would be further reviewed.

The roughly 1km-long (1094-yard) Po Pin Chau trail passes giant hexagonal volcanic rock columns dramatically jutting out from the sea and provides a viewing platform overlooking them.