Greenpeace warns 22 gov’t-promoted ‘eco-tourism’ sites lack statutory protection, as festive holiday nears

2026-02-04 - 06:48

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. Litter left behind at Sharp Island, Sai Kung, on October 1, 2025. File photo: Greenpeace. 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. A visitor stepping on coral at Sharp Island, Sai Kung, on October 1, 2025. File photo: Greenpeace. “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 Environmental and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), to formulate the framework. Visitors digging up marine life at Sharp Island, Sai Kung, on October 1, 2025. File photo: Greenpeace. The CSTB declined to comment on Thursday when asked about Greenpeace’s proposal. HKFP has reached out to EEB for comment. 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 carols in Sharp Island emerged last October, authorities stepped up patrols and said coral on the island had sustained “minor damage.”