Response to proposed AFCD campsite reservation system

Camping and hiking has always been a popular pastime for many people in Hong Kong. Beautiful campsites, such as Sai Wan and Ham Tin in the Sai Kung Country Park, are some of the most popular natural sites.  However, following recent public holidays, overcrowding and littering has become much more noticeable at these campsites with disturbing images of overflowing bins and blocked toilets reaching the news. This has led to a response by Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology, proposing that the government will look into the feasibility of a campsite reservation system.

For many of us, camping is a fun escape. But for outdoor education companies and schools, it is also a powerful way to teach kids about nature, develop independence through schemes like AYP, and promote care and connection towards Hong Kong’s natural environment. Bringing school groups to campsites as part of structured programmes, help the next generation of campers to become stewards for Hong Kong’s countryside.

The Hong Kong Outdoor Learning Association (HKOLA) is in support of better campsite management, but is keen to ensure a practical system is implemented that still allows access for responsible outdoor learning groups and schools. We are concerned that a region-wide, all-year reservation and payment system could end up discouraging the very kind of supervised, responsible camping that helps build a stronger outdoor culture, and create further administrative burden and barriers to participation.

In response, on behalf of HKOLA members and the outdoor learning community, HKOLA has written to the AFCD and EEB to express its viewpoint on the matter. See the submitted letter below. We hope that it is considered in the design process.

HKOLA is proud to work tirelessly on behalf of its members and their recipients to ensure that outdoor learning remains accessible, sustainable and impactful for Hong Kong’s youth and those that choose a career in the field. As a members-driven organisation, we value the support of our members and work on behalf of both organisations and individuals. 

If you are interested in becoming a member, donating or are in need of outdoor education related advice, please feel free to get in touch: info@hkoutdoorlearning.org

12th April 2026

Sent to: Environment and Ecology Bureau and AFCD

Response to proposed AFCD campsite reservation system

Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of the members of the Hong Kong Outdoor Learning Association (HKOLA) and the wider outdoor education sector, we write to express our views regarding the recent proposal to implement a booking and reservation system for country park campsites.

Our Association represents a broad community of individuals and organisations dedicated to environmental and outdoor education. Many of our members regularly bring school groups to Hong Kong’s country parks for structured, supervised programmes, to experience nature and learn about the environment. The values of our work—environmental awareness, appreciation for nature, and stewardship through the Leave No Trace principles—are strongly aligned with the mission of the country parks and the AFCD’s conservation goals.

We recognise the pressures placed on certain campsites during major holidays when visitor numbers surge. Overcrowding and irresponsible camping behaviour can indeed cause damage to both the environment and the visitor experience. However, we believe these issues are typically concentrated at specific campsites and times of the year, rather than being a consistent, territory-wide problem. Through our members' observations, during school outings and coaching and teaching programs, many sites remain lightly used and well maintained.

Our concern is that a blanket, year-round booking system applied to all campsites could create challenges for outdoor education programmes bringing school groups to the country parks for camping, especially if a real-name registration is required. We also fear the risks of system abuse and administrative burdens that may unintentionally disadvantage schools and legitimate outdoor education organisations.

We respectfully request that voices from the outdoor education community be considered during the consultation period. In particular, we suggest:

• Introducing reservation or quota systems only for identified high-use campsites and during peak holiday periods.

• If a reservation system is adopted, establishing a parallel, group-based booking channel for outdoor education providers and school organisers, without requiring individual name registration for each student. Eligibility could be tied to providers who meet recognized environmental and safety standards.

• If a reservation system is adopted, imposing a maximum stay of four nights to discourage long-term occupation and to ensure fair campsite access for all users.

The outdoor education sector has long played a key role in connecting young people with Hong Kong’s natural environment in a responsible and sustainable way, as well as preparing them to be a considerate and productive member of the community and society in general. We have done so for decades without contributing to campsite degradation or misuse. We therefore urge that professional outdoor education providers, or at a minimum, HKOLA as the representative for the outdoor learning community, be included in the consultation process, to ensure that future policies both protect the environment and continue to support outdoor learning opportunities for Hong Kong’s youth.

Thank you for considering our views. We would welcome the opportunity to contribute constructively to any discussions or working groups on this topic.

Kind regards,

David Addis