22 ‘eco-tourism’ sites promoted by gov’t lack protections, green group warns

Twenty-two “eco-tourism” hotspots promoted by the government are not protected by the city’s environmental statutes, a green group warned on Wednesday, calling on the authorities to prevent overtourism at local natural attractions.

Greenpeace campaigner Ha Shun-kuen on Wednesday told a radio programme that at least 22 sites with high ecological value in Hong Kong are not protected by the city’s environmental ordinances because they lie outside designated country parks and marine parks.

Ha was referring to a report published by Greenpeace last week, which highlighted concerns that the 22 sites were being promoted as ecotourism hotspots by the government without the necessary statutory framework to protect the environment.

The sites include Sharp Island in Sai Kung, a snorkelling hotspot which was thronged by thousands of tourists during China’s National Day holiday last October. Many were filmed trampling on coral and digging up marine creatures, sparking concerns about ecological protection.

Ha said on Wednesday that, because Sharp Island is located outside the city’s marine parks, the coral there is not protected by the law.

“Even though people trample on them and damage the ecology, there is no law to be enforced,” he said in Cantonese.

The 22 sites, which also include Ha Pak Nai in Yuen Long and Pui O on Lantau Island, face a heightened risk of overtourism during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday season later this month, he said.

Meanwhile, the government lacks a clear policy framework for ecotourism outlining the responsibilities of different departments and their respective roles in law enforcement, he added.

“To truly promote ecotourism, you must have a good policy framework. It must be one that not only tells people to clean up after themselves or take action after an incident, but a comprehensive framework providing guidance for departments and law enforcement,” he said.

Ha urged the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) to lead an inter-departmental effort, alongside the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), to formulate the framework.

The CSTB declined to comment on Thursday when asked about Greenpeace’s proposal.

However, in an emailed reply to HKFP on Thursday, the EEB said the government has been reviewing the capacity of tourism hotspots to ensure the sustainability of eco-tourism in the city: “Regarding popular coastal spots, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is studying whether to include ecologically important sites in protected areas, in a bid to strengthen the protection of coastal ecology,” the bureau said.

“The government is dedicated to showing the public the valuable ecological resources in Hong Kong under the premise of respecting ecology and protecting nature,” it added.

Regarding increased tourist numbers at other popular natural attractions in the city, the EEB said the government has stepped up measures, including additional transport and crowd controls. Relevant departments will also increase patrols and law enforcement while promoting proper etiquette for tourists visiting the countryside, it said.

Hong Kong’s natural attractions have seen large crowds during holidays, with viral videos showing poor hygiene at the sites and problematic behaviour that could damage the environment, leading to overtourism concerns.

Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung, a popular campsite, was flooded with tents on New Year’s Day. Video clips at the scene showed a large amount of trash outside the public toilet.

After videos of tourists trampling on corals on Sharp Island emerged last October, authorities stepped up patrols and said the coral had sustained “minor damage.”