Sai Kung suffers from influx of tourists during pandemic; locals are getting angry

Over the past few weeks, since pandemic lock-down rules have been relaxed, many outlying areas in Hong Kong have experienced an influx of tourists escaping the city and hoping to breathe “fresh air”. And now that the two theme parks have been closed for another couple of weeks places like Sai Kung are preparing for a “third wave” of visitors.

Coupled with the new restrictions on dining and the closure of bars and similar entertainment venues, the country park areas expect a surge in numbers, even taking into account that most barbecue and camping sites have also been closed.

Local residents are getting upset at the swelling numbers, the danger of many people in close proximity without masks and the growing levels of garbage being left behind.

Some Sai Kung District Councillors for Sai Kung town have taken things into their own hands and erected banners  that read “Fight Coronavirus, Stay at Home” at some of the hot spots, reminding visitors to stay at home as much as possible during the severe epidemic.

Sai Kung District Councillor, Debbie Chen Ka Lam, posted on her social networking sites, that every holiday is a nightmare for Sai Kung people.The large number of tourists and cars have turned the original leisurely town into a crowded Mong Kok. During the epidemic, the situation has deteriorated she says. A large number of tourists walk around without masks. In villages close to the hiking trails, they leave a large amount of rubbish. Therefore, she and some colleagues have been to a couple of the roundabouts that are necessary to go to Sai Kung and hung banners persuading visitors to go home to fight the epidemic.

Also on social media concerned locals have been posting photos of rubbish left behind by tourists. One of the most serious cases was sighted at Sai Wan Pavilion over the weekend.

There were plastic bags, plastic bottles and paper bags everywhere, but tourists nearby seemed to turn a blind eye to them and did not help with cleaning.

A large number of netizens severely criticised the unethical behaviour, “Sai Wan Pavilion, they thought it was already in the rural area, but in fact it was in the area of ​​a country park. There are no trash bins. You have to take away your own trash.” “You don’t know the basics. “Baa people walking in the mountains”, “The Hong Kong population says no, but the body is very honest.” (Literal translations of the comments).