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

FEHD reviews this year's efforts to tackle dripping air conditioners

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (November 10) that the department has continued to adopt a multipronged approach to tackle the problem of dripping air conditioners, combining enhanced inspections and enforcement with publicity and education, innovative technology and adjustments to operational strategies. This year, the FEHD has fully deployed the third-generation Air-conditioning Water Dripping Inspection System, featuring infrared night-vision technology and artificial intelligence (AI) image recognition, across all districts to detect dripping locations quickly and accurately, significantly enhancing enforcement effectiveness.

The spokesman said, "As of September 30, the FEHD had issued about 8 100 nuisance notices concerning dripping air conditioners this year, representing an increase of about 16 per cent and 54 per cent over the corresponding periods last year and in 2024 respectively. The figure was about four times that for the same period in 2023. Over 99 per cent of the households that received the notices have addressed the dripping problem as required. Significant improvements have also been recorded at the locations of concern identified by the department."

In recent years, the FEHD has adopted a new operational strategy. In addition to handling public complaints, officers proactively conduct door-to-door inspections and take enforcement action, focusing on around 300 locations of concern with more serious dripping problems across districts, including bus stops, minibus stops and pedestrian passages. Each location is inspected at least once a week. By August, dripping problems at about half of these locations had been resolved or had shown significant improvement. As conditions improved at some locations, the FEHD extended its operations to more than 110 additional locations with less serious problems. As of September 30, the number of locations being followed up by the FEHD had increased from around 300 to more than 400.

The FEHD has also actively applied innovative technology, collaborating with a local innovation and technology institution to develop the Air-conditioning Water Dripping Inspection System. Using infrared night-vision technology, the system enables officers to detect dripping locations quickly in low-light conditions without entering residents' premises. The enhanced second-generation system features a remote-controlled pan-tilt head and autofocus functions. Its detection range has been extended to 120 metres, enabling it to cover buildings around 40 storeys high. In April this year, the system won a bronze award in thecategory of Engineering and Robotics – Optical Sensing and Spatial Intelligence at the Edison Awards 2026, gaining international recognition for its innovative technology. This year, the department has fully deployed the third-generation system, featuring AI image recognition, across all districts. The system uses high-precision image recognition to detect dripping locations automatically and pinpoint their sources quickly and accurately, further reducing the time required for observation and evidence collection.

In addition to strengthening enforcement, the FEHD actively collaborates with the property management sector to tackle dripping air conditioners. The department continues to promote the Scheme of Participation by Property Management Agents in Tackling Dripping Air-conditioners, inviting staff of property management companies serving private housing estates to help identify dripping sources and advise residents to rectify the problem. More than 300 private housing estates across the territory currently participate in the scheme, helping to complete follow-up and handling of an average of over 4 000 dripping complaints each year. The department also works closely with the Property Management Services Authority to provide relevant guidelines for licensed property management companies and property management personnel, and encourages more licensed companies to join the scheme.

The FEHD calls on all sectors to work together to tackle dripping air conditioners. Property management companies should regularly repair and maintain building drainage systems and remind residents to inspect and repair their air conditioners. Members of the public should also inspect and maintain their air conditioners regularly and address any dripping problems promptly to avoid causing a nuisance. For more information, please refer to the leaflet on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/library/aircon/Pamphlet_water_dripping_from_air_conditioner.pdf).

Source: AI-found images