Hong Kong’s East Dam welcomes 1,400 visitors daily over first 4 days of Easter

he East Dam has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction in recent years.

Photo: Eugene Lee Hong Kong’s East Dam welcomed about 1,400 visitors daily over the first four days of the Easter break, despite the adverse weather, conservation authorities have said, while revealing littering and illegal camping figures for the site and the surrounding area.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on Tuesday that it recorded 18 cases of law enforcement action being taken at Sai Kung East Country Park for such offences between Good Friday and Easter Monday. “The AFCD will continue to explore long-term management strategies for popular attractions within country parks,” it wrote on social media. “Drawing on past experiences, the department will consider various optimisation methods, including the potential introduction of a reservation system or charging fees.” The country park significantly overlaps with the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, which has been lauded by the United Nations for its diverse ecological resources.

The geopark also includes Sharp Island.

The AFCD added that it had deployed about 90 staff members each day to the country park, Sharp Island and Lantau Island’s Shui Hau to patrol and educate visitors on the importance of keeping the locations litter-free.

The department said it had stepped up cleaning and management at campsites and the East Dam.

It also noted that East Dam welcomed an average of about 1,400 visitors to the area each day between last Friday and Monday, adding that most hikers had complied with department staff’s instructions and that the area was in good order.

The site remained popular despite the unstable weather over the weekend, with conservation authorities saying they had reminded hikers to pay close attention to the conditions.

Famous for its hexagonal rock columns, the East Dam has become a famous destination for mainland Chinese holidaymakers, with long queues for minibuses at the site often being observed during public holidays across the border.

But campsites along nearby sections of the MacLehose Trail, such as those in Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites, have grappled with heavy littering over festive breaks such as Chinese New Year.

Campers at Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung over the Easter holiday.

Photo: Facebook/AFCD In some cases, campers are suspected of lighting illegal campfires – a violation of the Country Parks Ordinance.

The AFCD said it had logged about 180 tents at

原文链接: 南华早报