Ms. LINN Hon Ho, Bernadette, JP
Secretary for Development
(Email: sdev@devb.gov.hk)
Works Branch of Development Bureau
(Email: corridor-eoi@devb.gov.hk, nmco-lfseoi@devb.gov.hk)
Mr. WU Kwok Yuen, Jacky, JP
Project Manager (South and Sustainable Lantau)
Civil Engineering and Development Department
(Email: jackykywu@cedd.gov.hk)
Mr. YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP
Director for Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office
(Email: d.nmco@devb.gov.hk, nmcoenq@devb.gov.hk)
1. Green Power, as a local charitable green group, highlights the approach of “co-existence of conservation and development” in view that “balancing development and conservation” has been sloganized to rationalize avoidable and hasty deprivation of locally, regionally or globally significant natural assets which should also have been valueable ecotourism resources.
2. The Development Bureau (DEVB) invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) in April, 2025 for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
3. While developing ecotourism is one of the sustainable approach to manifest“co-existence of conservation and development”, holistic and comprehensive understanding of ecotourism by the Administration is required to back up establishment of “ecotourism” explicitly and healthily.
4. Green Power supports the promotion of “ecotourism”, an environmentally and ecologically sustainable and responsible mode of tourism, that provides economic incentive to conserve local ecological, cultural and scenic resources. However, neither clear policy nor binding guidelines are currently available to regulate the sector(s) or relevant stakeholders.
5. According to the UN Tourism's definition(1), ecotourism refers to forms of tourism which have the following characteristics:
(a) All nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas.
(b) It contains educational and interpretation features.
(c) It is generally, but not exclusively organised by specialised tour operators for small groups. Service provider partners at the destinations tend to be small, locally owned businesses.
(d) It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment.
(e) It supports the maintenance of natural areas which are used as ecotourism attractions by:
(i) Generating economic benefits for host communities, organisations and authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes;
(ii) Providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities;
(iii) Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.
6. Therefore, the Administration should treat “ecotourism”, on top of a revenue-generating tourist activities in a countryside scene, a social and economic interaction of business with the local ecological, environmental, cultural entities resulting in benefits to conservation of ecosystem, human use of natural resources, livelihood of local community and conservation awareness of the tourists.
7. “Ecotourism’ should aim at conserving the natural and cultural assets and take into account of the carrying capacity of these asset. Usually pristine and attractive natural features, such as landscapes and wildlife, are perceived as basis to support “ecotourism”. However, these natural features are actually nourished by environmental factors such as water quality, vegetation and ecology, and compactible landuses. All these factors have carrying capacity beyond that self- remedial ability will fail. In an other word, environmental status will turn bad when carrying capacity is breached.
8. Pristine beaches, such as Cheung Sha Beach in South Lantau, are vulnerable to E. coli pollution that imposes health risk to visitors and affect the appearance of beach water. Improper sewage and drainage facilities such as septic tanks and stormwater outfalls, which are commonly installed in Hong Kong countryside, will rapidly turn a clean bathing beach into a filthy one that contradicts the objective of “ecotourism”.
9. Also, food wastes generated with catering services, may attract the wild animals and feral cattle/buffaloes to consume that will hurt the health of wild animals, upset the ecology and may lead to conflict between human and wild animals. Such conflict not only contradict the objective of “ecotourism” but also negatively impact the business.
10. Without adequate measures, the food packaging, especially those of take-away food/drinks items, will be easily ended up in the surrounding environment, habitats and water bodies (i.e. natural streams and beaches) that are blights in tourist spots. More significantly, non-biodegradable microplastic will be formed that have been scientifically proven to be toxic to wildlife, such as globally and locally endangered Horseshoe Crabs. Again, this commonly occurring polluting incident should not be let go in “ecotourism’ spots, such as Pak Nai where is an important nursery ground for Horseshoe Crabs.
11. Upgrading transportation facility to increase “visitor capacity” is perceived as a golden rule for promoting tourism and perceived as common sense. However, ones always ignore the consequences of convenient vehicular access that may trigger developments incompatible with “ecotourism” such as proliferation of brownfields, flytipping of wastes, reclamation of coastlines, wetlands, farmlands and destruction of picturesque landscape. Requirement for parking space will also take up coastal habitats and destroy backshore vegetation which not only sets a green backdrop for natural shores but also filter the polluted surface runoff and stabilize the natural shore, especially sandy beach, against wave erosion.
12. We recommend that the commercial operators participating in any “ecotourism” development proposals should indicate their awareness and commitment to
(a) identify and acknowledge the ecological, environmental, cultural and landscape assets of project sites whatever they possess direct benefits to tourism business or not.
(b) support administratively and financially the researches, studies, surveys, also regular monitoring, auditing and surveillance measures to prevent degradation of “ecotourism” resources.
(c) disseminate data, findings or information about the status of “ecotourism” resources to stakeholders, especially local community, green groups, academics, regulatory governmental authorities and visitors, to maintain the creditability of “ecotourism” business.
(d) partner with other stakeholders, especially local community, green groups, academics, in processes of project planning, business operation, monitoring in construction phase, visitor education and interpretation, and other related activities.
(e) abide to consensual standards, indicators and measures recommended by academics and green groups which reflect qualitatively and quantitatively “ecotourism” resources status that may be more stringent or different from the statutory ones.
(f) observe measures to restrict vehicular access (i.e. South Lantau Road) or limitation of transport capacity (i.e. Deep Bay Road) in order to protect the “ecotourism” resources against air pollution and noise impacts to ecology and biodiversity, and illegal dumping of wastes. These polluting activities damage the ecological and water resources, and more importantly ruin the scenic tourist resources.
(g) refrain from activities that will increase environmental loading and disturb ecology, even though these activities are lawful.
(h) educate staff, guests and neighbouring community to conserve “ecotourism” resources through designed interpretation activities/facilities, green events, conditions of service, conduct of visitors/staff, supply of consumer goods, participation in supply chains, employment, etc. with involvement of other stakeholders or parties.
(i) monitor the quality of tourist facilities operation, conduct of service providers, education and tourist services, and environmental and ecological parameters through effective control and surveillance measures with involvement of other stakeholders or parties.
(j) adopt “Precautionary principle” when no scientific or reasonably reliable assessment of carrying capacity is available for any “ecotourism” sites. The principle states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”(2)
13. “Ecotourism” not only makes use of natural beauty for economic growth, but also interacts with the local ecological, environmental, cultural entities resulting in benefits to conservation of ecosystem, human use of natural resources, livelihood of local community and conservation awareness of the tourists.
14. In view that Hong Kong possesses many world-class natural landscapes, they are precious “ecotourism” resources if appropriately promoted with clear policy, administrative and financial support. Regulatory and management framework should be formulated to ensure the perpetuation of “ecotourism” resources and consequent benefits to the whole society.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
1. Green Power, as a local charitable green group, highlights the approach of “co-existence of conservation and development” in view that “balancing development and conservation” has been sloganized to rationalize avoidable and hasty deprivation of locally, regionally or globally significant natural assets which should also have been valueable ecotourism resources.
2. The Development Bureau (DEVB) invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) in April, 2025 for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
3. While developing ecotourism is one of the sustainable approach to manifest“co-existence of conservation and development”, holistic and comprehensive understanding of ecotourism by the Administration is required to back up establishment of “ecotourism” explicitly and healthily.
4. Green Power supports the promotion of “ecotourism”, an environmentally and ecologically sustainable and responsible mode of tourism, that provides economic incentive to conserve local ecological, cultural and scenic resources. However, neither clear policy nor binding guidelines are currently available to regulate the sector(s) or relevant stakeholders.
5. According to the UN Tourism's definition(1), ecotourism refers to forms of tourism which have the following characteristics:
(a) All nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas.
(b) It contains educational and interpretation features.
(c) It is generally, but not exclusively organised by specialised tour operators for small groups. Service provider partners at the destinations tend to be small, locally owned businesses.
(d) It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment.
(e) It supports the maintenance of natural areas which are used as ecotourism attractions by:
(i) Generating economic benefits for host communities, organisations and authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes;
(ii) Providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities;
(iii) Increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.
6. Therefore, the Administration should treat “ecotourism”, on top of a revenue-generating tourist activities in a countryside scene, a social and economic interaction of business with the local ecological, environmental, cultural entities resulting in benefits to conservation of ecosystem, human use of natural resources, livelihood of local community and conservation awareness of the tourists.
7. “Ecotourism’ should aim at conserving the natural and cultural assets and take into account of the carrying capacity of these asset. Usually pristine and attractive natural features, such as landscapes and wildlife, are perceived as basis to support “ecotourism”. However, these natural features are actually nourished by environmental factors such as water quality, vegetation and ecology, and compactible landuses. All these factors have carrying capacity beyond that self- remedial ability will fail. In an other word, environmental status will turn bad when carrying capacity is breached.
8. Pristine beaches, such as Cheung Sha Beach in South Lantau, are vulnerable to E. coli pollution that imposes health risk to visitors and affect the appearance of beach water. Improper sewage and drainage facilities such as septic tanks and stormwater outfalls, which are commonly installed in Hong Kong countryside, will rapidly turn a clean bathing beach into a filthy one that contradicts the objective of “ecotourism”.
9. Also, food wastes generated with catering services, may attract the wild animals and feral cattle/buffaloes to consume that will hurt the health of wild animals, upset the ecology and may lead to conflict between human and wild animals. Such conflict not only contradict the objective of “ecotourism” but also negatively impact the business.
10. Without adequate measures, the food packaging, especially those of take-away food/drinks items, will be easily ended up in the surrounding environment, habitats and water bodies (i.e. natural streams and beaches) that are blights in tourist spots. More significantly, non-biodegradable microplastic will be formed that have been scientifically proven to be toxic to wildlife, such as globally and locally endangered Horseshoe Crabs. Again, this commonly occurring polluting incident should not be let go in “ecotourism’ spots, such as Pak Nai where is an important nursery ground for Horseshoe Crabs.
11. Upgrading transportation facility to increase “visitor capacity” is perceived as a golden rule for promoting tourism and perceived as common sense. However, ones always ignore the consequences of convenient vehicular access that may trigger developments incompatible with “ecotourism” such as proliferation of brownfields, flytipping of wastes, reclamation of coastlines, wetlands, farmlands and destruction of picturesque landscape. Requirement for parking space will also take up coastal habitats and destroy backshore vegetation which not only sets a green backdrop for natural shores but also filter the polluted surface runoff and stabilize the natural shore, especially sandy beach, against wave erosion.
12. We recommend that the commercial operators participating in any “ecotourism” development proposals should indicate their awareness and commitment to
(a) identify and acknowledge the ecological, environmental, cultural and landscape assets of project sites whatever they possess direct benefits to tourism business or not.
(b) support administratively and financially the researches, studies, surveys, also regular monitoring, auditing and surveillance measures to prevent degradation of “ecotourism” resources.
(c) disseminate data, findings or information about the status of “ecotourism” resources to stakeholders, especially local community, green groups, academics, regulatory governmental authorities and visitors, to maintain the creditability of “ecotourism” business.
(d) partner with other stakeholders, especially local community, green groups, academics, in processes of project planning, business operation, monitoring in construction phase, visitor education and interpretation, and other related activities.
(e) abide to consensual standards, indicators and measures recommended by academics and green groups which reflect qualitatively and quantitatively “ecotourism” resources status that may be more stringent or different from the statutory ones.
(f) observe measures to restrict vehicular access (i.e. South Lantau Road) or limitation of transport capacity (i.e. Deep Bay Road) in order to protect the “ecotourism” resources against air pollution and noise impacts to ecology and biodiversity, and illegal dumping of wastes. These polluting activities damage the ecological and water resources, and more importantly ruin the scenic tourist resources.
(g) refrain from activities that will increase environmental loading and disturb ecology, even though these activities are lawful.
(h) educate staff, guests and neighbouring community to conserve “ecotourism” resources through designed interpretation activities/facilities, green events, conditions of service, conduct of visitors/staff, supply of consumer goods, participation in supply chains, employment, etc. with involvement of other stakeholders or parties.
(i) monitor the quality of tourist facilities operation, conduct of service providers, education and tourist services, and environmental and ecological parameters through effective control and surveillance measures with involvement of other stakeholders or parties.
(j) adopt “Precautionary principle” when no scientific or reasonably reliable assessment of carrying capacity is available for any “ecotourism” sites. The principle states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”(2)
13. “Ecotourism” not only makes use of natural beauty for economic growth, but also interacts with the local ecological, environmental, cultural entities resulting in benefits to conservation of ecosystem, human use of natural resources, livelihood of local community and conservation awareness of the tourists.
14. In view that Hong Kong possesses many world-class natural landscapes, they are precious “ecotourism” resources if appropriately promoted with clear policy, administrative and financial support. Regulatory and management framework should be formulated to ensure the perpetuation of “ecotourism” resources and consequent benefits to the whole society.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Yours faithfully,
CHENG Luk Ki
Director, GREEN POWER
Yours faithfully,
CHENG Luk Ki
Director, GREEN POWER
(1) UN Tourism website: Ecotourism and Protected areas (https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/ecotourism-and-protected-areas#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20UN%20Tourism's%20definition%2C%20ecotourism,the%20traditional%20cultures%20prevailing%20in%20natural%20areas)
(2) Principle 15, RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, UN: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_CONF.151_26_Vol.I_Declaration.pdf
