About 1,560 people registered to enter the Po Pin Chau section of Sai Kung East Country Park during the first two-day weekend of a reservation trial, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said. It reported that operations were smooth and that most visitors entered immediately without queuing.
The trial uses a real-name reservation system and set a daily registration limit of 2,000 people. The department said most visitors arrived during their reserved time slots, while only a small number arrived before 9am, which it considered broadly effective in staggering visitor flows.
The department reported that some visitors found the on-site directions, reservation process and verification arrangements clear and smooth. Others said trail traffic had decreased and that order at the lookout point had visibly improved compared with before the reservation system was introduced.
According to the AFCD account reported by RTHK, the trial covers weekends in September, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day Golden Week holiday. The first weekend’s registration figure included people who made reservations on site, although the reports did not specify how many did so.
The department said it would continue collecting on-site data and visitor feedback while monitoring trail conditions, visitor flows and travel or sightseeing patterns during the remaining trial period. It will conduct a detailed review afterwards to assess the system’s effectiveness and consider long-term management arrangements.
Registered visitors whose plans change can cancel online up to 48 hours before their reservation period begins. The department said it would continue releasing places flexibly according to conditions on site.