‘Golden week’ crush shows Hong Kong needs top-down ecotourism policy, experts say

Hong Kong should adopt a top-down, comprehensive ecotourism policy to safeguard the city’s natural attractions, with a designated authority taking the lead, experts have urged, after a surge in Labour Day “golden week” visitors overwhelmed ecologically sensitive spots.The call on Monday came after a viral video showed a Mandarin-speaking tourist smoking a cigarette in front of the press and claiming he had confirmed with law enforcement officers that smoking was allowed at the beach of Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung, in a defiant response to a fine imposed on a mainland Chinese visitor for littering at the same site.When asked about visitors’ responsibility to take away their trash, the tourist said on Sunday: “I find it laughable. I will just pay the fine, won’t I? Does he have the right not to take the trash away [after he was fined]?”