Trial Reservation System Launches at Po Pin Chau Section to Manage Visitor Numbers

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to implement trial reservation system at Po Pin Chau Section

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (August 21) that a trial reservation system will be implemented at the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung (see attached illustration) on weekends, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day Golden Week, from September 5 to October 7, to better manage visitor numbers and flow. The trial system applies only to the Po Pin Chau Section, and no reservation is required for entry to other areas of the High Island Reservoir East Dam. Reservations during the trial period will be free of charge.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Photo source: reference image

Implementation dates and quotas

Visitors wishing to enter the Po Pin Chau Section between 9am and 5pm on weekends, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day Golden Week within the period from September 5 to October 7, must make a reservation. Each two-hour period constitutes a session, with a capacity of 500 people per session and a total daily capacity of 2 000 people. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The dates requiring reservations are September 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25 to 27, and October 1 to 7. Apart from the dates specified above, and outside the hours of 9am to 5pm, visitors do not need a reservation to visit the Po Pin Chau Section.

The reservation system will open at 11am on August 24 (Monday) for bookings for September 5 and 6. Thereafter, the system will open for reservations every Monday at 11am, accepting reservations for the weekend or Golden Week one week later, thus allowing visitors to plan their trips in advance.

Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Booking platform

Reservations will require real-name registration. Visitors must register in advance through the Klook platform, which includes the website (klook.com/en-US/activity/226636-high-island-geo-trail-po-pin-chau/), mobile application, and Klook WeChat mini-program. Each person may reserve up to five places per registration for themselves and their accompanying persons. In addition to receiving an e-voucher (containing a QR code) via email, registrants can also access the e-voucher on the relevant application or WeChat mini-program. Registrants may cancel their reservation up to 48 hours prior to the start of the reserved time slot.

Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

On-site verification

Visitors with valid reservations are required to arrive at the entrance of the Po Pin Chau Section on the reserved date and time slot, and present their e-voucher and personal identification document to on-site staff for verification to gain entry. If quotas remain available during a particular time slot, walk-in visitors may complete their e-booking on-site. The AFCD will set up a counter at the entrance of the Po Pin Chau Section to handle entry and visitor enquiries.

To ensure that members of the public and visitors are aware of these new measures, the Government will step up publicity through various channels. For introduction, transportation information, and the latest updates on the High Island Geo Trail-Po Pin Chau Section, please visit the webpage (hiking.gov.hk/ppcbooking?lang=en-us). Members of the public and visitors may inquire about the details of the reservation system by email at ppcbooking@afcd.gov.hk or by phone at 2150 6693 (available daily from 9am to 5pm).

Po Pin Chau, Photo source: online image

Four registered general building contractors disciplined for offences relating to building works

The Registered Contractors' Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) on four fatal site incidents and decided that the four Registered General Building Contractors (RGBC) concerned should be disciplined for having been convicted by courts of offences related to building works.

The Board's written decisions and orders issued on August 5 were published in the Gazette today (August 21). Details are available at the following links:

Case 1: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5127

Case 2: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5125

Case 3: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5126

Case 4: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5124

The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred on August 10, 2019, at a building alteration site in Causeway Bay. A worker, while carrying out wooden formwork work on the rooftop, fell from an unfenced edge of a formwork to the floor below. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away later. The RGBC was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (FIUO), the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. The RGBC was convicted and fined $245,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on June 5, 2020. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months, to be fined $200,000, and to pay a total of $50,500 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The Labour Department, Photo source: reference image

The second case involved a fatal incident that occurred on December 9, 2020, at a construction site in Stanley. Two workers, while dismantling a metal hoarding at the site, were pressed by the collapsed portion of the hoarding. One of the workers died and the other was injured. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $35,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on May 29, 2023. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months and to pay a total of $60,100 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The third case involved a fatal incident that occurred on June 30, 2020, at a reclamation site of the Hong Kong International Airport three-runway system project. While a group of workers was engaged in repairing a winch drum of a machine on the site, a wire rope suddenly flipped and struck two of the workers. One worker sustained a serious head injury and died later while the other sustained a bone fracture. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The RGBC was convicted and fined $53,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on June 24, 2021. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $299,700 and to pay a total of $64,000 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The fourth case involved a fatal incident that occurred on November 8, 2022, at a construction site in Tsim Sha Tsui. While a worker was carrying out fire service work on a reinforcement bar structure, part of the structure suddenly collapsed onto him. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on March 21, 2024. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $166,700 and to pay a total of $55,700 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.

The Buildings Department, Photo source: reference image

A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.

Source: AI-created image