Po Pin Chau quota scheme wins backing of local leaders

Under a proposed real-name registration trial scheme, the number of daily visitors to the Po Pin Chau trail in Sai Kung East Country Park will be capped at 2,000. This initiative, announced recently by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, aims to address overcrowding during peak holiday periods. Starting next month, bookings will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with selected weekends in September, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day Golden Week holidays covered by the trial.

Lawmakers and district councillors have shown confidence in the scheme's ability to tackle overcrowding. Christine Fong, a Sai Kung district councillor, stated that Po Pin Chau had been attracting an average of 3,500 visitors per day during peak periods, with single-day highs reaching 5,700. She believes the reservation system is an "appropriate first step" towards clearing the bottleneck.

While no-shows will not be penalized during the trial phase, Fong suggested that absences without valid excuses could lead to temporary suspensions of accounts, such as a 30-day ban after two unexcused no-shows. Fellow lawmaker Chris Ip also supported the scheme, suggesting that authorities consider introducing a deposit requirement at a later stage to prevent quota hoarding.

Chris Cheung, another Sai Kung district councillor, called the initiative a step in the right direction. He proposed reserving a portion of the daily quota for locals and walk-ins, acknowledging that some elderly residents might face difficulties with online bookings.