Starting in September, Hong Kong will test an online booking system for the popular Po Pin Chau hiking trail on weekends and holidays to control crowd surges.

Famous for its dramatic hexagonal rock columns near the High Island Reservoir East Dam, Po Pin Chau has seen a massive influx of tourists in recent years.

Announcing the news on Friday, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said the test run will operate from Sept 5 to Oct 7, and visitors who plan to enter the section between 9 am and 5 pm on weekends and holidays will need to book in advance.

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A daily quota is set at 2,000 people, with each two-hour period allowing 500 people at most.

No booking fees will be charged during the trial period, the department added.

Access to other areas of the East Dam of High Island Reservoir does not require a reservation.

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The booking system will open at 11 am on Aug 24 for those seeking to make reservations for visits on Sept 5 and 6. Thereafter, reservations can be made through the booking system every Monday at 11 am, with reservations for the upcoming weekend or Golden Week one week later accepted, allowing visitors to plan their itineraries early.

The reservation platform requires real-name registration, and visitors need to register in advance through the Klook platform. Every visitor can book a maximum of five slots per session for themselves and their companions. In addition to receiving an electronic voucher via email, visitors can also view the electronic voucher on their mobile application or WeChat mini-program.

Cancellations should be submitted at least 48 hours before the reserved time slot starts.

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Visitors who have successfully made a reservation must arrive at the entrance of the Po Pin Chau section on the date booked and within their booked time slot, and present their electronic voucher and identity document to on-site staff to gain entry. If there are remaining places in a given time slot, individuals who have not reserved in advance may register on the spot via the online system. The AFCD will set up a counter at the entrance of the Po Pin Chau Section to handle entry and visitor enquiries.

District Councilor Chris Cheung Mei-hung has expressed his support for the arrangement, saying he believes it strikes a balance between management requirements and public convenience in accessing the High Island Reservoir East Dam. He proposed that the AFCD continue to monitor visitor flows and periodically review the quota system, and suggested it should consider reserving part of the quota for local residents who visit without having made a prior booking.

Cheung stressed that the department must ensure that the system is able to handle peak traffic and that the booking process remains simple and fully accessible to the elderly and those less familiar with technology.

Contact the writer atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com