Hong Kong’s natural beauty, one of its greatest assets, is also ecologically vulnerable. Reminders of that abounded during the mainland’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday. At Sharp Island, where thousands flocked to the city’s Unesco global geopark, the authorities issued about 300 verbal warnings.

At Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park, the sheer number of visitors camping, some using hotpots, underscored the problem. On Saturday evening, an estimated 500 tents at the campsite included unlicensed hiking tours. The site is categorised as “large” – meaning it can hold more than 50 four-person tents. The state of the washrooms, where the sink was blocked with food scraps, showed the site was not intended for so many campers. These examples form a pattern that threatens fragile ecosystems.

Overcrowding damages soil, vegetation and water quality. Washrooms and plumbing systems in remote areas are strained to breaking point. The cumulative effect can be long-term ecological harm. Golden week may be an exceptional period, but the problem is not confined to holidays. Without stronger enforcement and deterrents, the balance between welcoming visitors and protecting nature will continue to tip in the wrong direction.

Issuance of hundreds of warnings in a single day is evidence that rules are not working. When penalties can be shrugged off, they fail to incentivise responsible behaviour. Stricter enforcement, clearer guidelines and preventive measures are needed. Limiting visitors at sensitive sites would be a start.

Hong Kong rightly encourages residents and tourists to enjoy its outdoors. But that must not come at the expense of the environment itself. The city’s beaches, islands and country parks are treasures that require diligent stewardship. Protecting them is not about restricting access; it is about ensuring access is sustainable.

Sharp Island and Ham Tin Wan are cautionary tales. They show what happens when rules are flouted and enforcement is lax. Without stronger measures, the city risks losing the natural heritage it seeks to showcase. Effective action now will ensure future generations enjoy these places in their intended state – unspoilt and resilient.