Hong Kong government watchdog investigates amenities in countryside amid city's tourism push
Hong Kong's government watchdog has announced an investigation into amenities in the city's countryside, an effort to boost tourism amid complaints about hygiene and insufficient facilities in some nature spots.
The Office of The Ombudsman said on Thursday that the probe is intended to align with the government's efforts to develop green tourism and the concept that 'tourism is everywhere' in the city – a notion put forward by Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong.
The watchdog said it noted news reports of inadequate toilets and poor hygiene conditions in some countryside areas. Information on transport, water filling locations and toilet locations are also said to be lacking, the watchdog said in a statement.
The Ombudsman added that it has also 'received complaints about the slow progress of countryside facility maintenance and insufficient supporting resources, such as delays in rain shelter repairs and insufficient publicity for visitor centres.'
As part of the investigation, the Ombudsman will examine the operations of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), as well as other departments responsible for managing country parks and ancillary facilities.
The government watchdog's announcement came after the Labour Day Golden Week holiday earlier this month, when the city saw large crowds of tourists visiting the countryside, including Grass Island and the MacLehose Trail. Both places are widely featured in posts about Hong Kong travel tips on Xiaohongshu, a mainland Chinese social media app.
In Sai Kung, the High Island Geo Trail saw over 3,000 tourists a day, most of whom came from mainland China, news outlets reported. Tourists in some countryside areas waited a long time for minibuses and some complained about inconvenient transport arrangements, according to local media.
Jack Chan, the Ombudman, said he himself observed garbage accumulation and traffic congestion during the recent Labour Day holiday.
Established in 1989, the Office of The Ombudsman is the city's independent watchdog for probing the government.
Controversies emerged with the watchdog earlier in May after it was found to have removed decades' worth of annual and investigative reports, as well as other documents, from its website, saying the move is for 'more effective website management.'
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HKFP
2 days ago
- HKFP
Hong Kong government watchdog investigates amenities in countryside amid city's tourism push
Hong Kong's government watchdog has announced an investigation into amenities in the city's countryside, an effort to boost tourism amid complaints about hygiene and insufficient facilities in some nature spots. The Office of The Ombudsman said on Thursday that the probe is intended to align with the government's efforts to develop green tourism and the concept that 'tourism is everywhere' in the city – a notion put forward by Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong. The watchdog said it noted news reports of inadequate toilets and poor hygiene conditions in some countryside areas. Information on transport, water filling locations and toilet locations are also said to be lacking, the watchdog said in a statement. The Ombudsman added that it has also 'received complaints about the slow progress of countryside facility maintenance and insufficient supporting resources, such as delays in rain shelter repairs and insufficient publicity for visitor centres.' As part of the investigation, the Ombudsman will examine the operations of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), as well as other departments responsible for managing country parks and ancillary facilities. The government watchdog's announcement came after the Labour Day Golden Week holiday earlier this month, when the city saw large crowds of tourists visiting the countryside, including Grass Island and the MacLehose Trail. Both places are widely featured in posts about Hong Kong travel tips on Xiaohongshu, a mainland Chinese social media app. In Sai Kung, the High Island Geo Trail saw over 3,000 tourists a day, most of whom came from mainland China, news outlets reported. Tourists in some countryside areas waited a long time for minibuses and some complained about inconvenient transport arrangements, according to local media. Jack Chan, the Ombudman, said he himself observed garbage accumulation and traffic congestion during the recent Labour Day holiday. Established in 1989, the Office of The Ombudsman is the city's independent watchdog for probing the government. Controversies emerged with the watchdog earlier in May after it was found to have removed decades' worth of annual and investigative reports, as well as other documents, from its website, saying the move is for 'more effective website management.'
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
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Hong Kong ombudsman probes oversight of tourist facilities at nature spots
Hong Kong's ombudsman is assessing the management of tourist facilities at local nature spots, with the investigation aiming to enhance the city's green tourism push. The Office of the Ombudsman said on Thursday that its investigation was prompted by media reports that essential amenities, such as toilets, were often inadequate, and that the information for transport and other facilities was frequently outdated or hard to find in nature areas. Complaints had surfaced about the slow progress of maintenance efforts and the lack of resources, such as delays in repairing rain shelters and the lack of publicity for visitor centres, it said. The investigation will examine the work of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and other related bodies in managing and maintaining the ancillary tourist facilities. It will also assess the dissemination of information on hiking activities and outdoor facilities. 'Proper management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities not only helps protect the safety of hikers and visitors but also enhances the outdoor experience for members of the public and tourists, thereby strengthening Hong Kong's appeal as a green tourism hotspot,' Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi said. Chan said that problems such as rubbish accumulation and traffic congestion had emerged during the recent Labour Day golden week holiday, when many locals and tourists visited the city's mountains and country parks.
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