The Government will introduce various measures to enhance facilities around the High Island Reservoir East Dam, adding to convenience for visitors during the Mainland’s Labour Day Golden Week.

The measures are in response to a significant increase in the number of visitors accessing the East Dam during recent weekends and the Ching Ming Festival holiday.

A large number of visitors on these days have taken taxis to the East Dam in the morning, causing severe traffic congestion on Sai Kung Man Yee Road and markedly increasing the travel time for Green Minibus (GMB) Route No. 9A, from Pak Tam Chung to the East Dam.

At present, GMB Route No. 9A on the Pak Tam Chung-East Dam route serves passengers on weekends and public holidays, with a frequency of 15-20 minutes. The service hours for departures from Pak Tam Chung are between 9.30am and 6.40pm, while those for departures from the East Dam are between 10am and 7pm.

As more visitors are expected in the East Dam area during the Golden Week holiday period, from May 1 to 5, various departments will enact enhancement measures.

Co-ordination between the Transport Department (TD) and the operator concerned will allow GMB Route No. 9A services to be boosted subject to passenger demand. Furthermore, the operator will, on a trial basis, extend the service to May 2, a weekday.

The TD and the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) will also take measures to enhance passenger queuing arrangements.

In the event of the road section concerned experiencing heavy traffic, the TD will make an announcement through various channels advising members of the public to plan ahead for their journeys.

It will also set up a messaging sign at a suitable location ahead of the AFCD’s Pak Tam Chung Barrier to inform visitors of traffic conditions on the roads leading to the East Dam area.

For its part, the Water Supplies Department has arranged for contractors to carry out temporary improvement works at some locations on Sai Kung Man Yee Road to facilitate the manoeuvring of traffic. The works have been substantially completed.

The AFCD will strengthen management of the country park area surrounding the East Dam. This includes deploying additional personnel to patrol the region, and the enhancement of cleaning services as necessary.

In collaboration with the Tourism Commission and the Tourism Board, the AFCD will also enhance promotion of other hiking trails within Hong Kong’s country parks and disseminate hiking guidelines to tourists.

Police will deploy uniformed officers to direct traffic in strategic areas at peak visitor arrival and departure times, and to help facilitate pedestrian flows. The force will also take action to combat any illegal acts by taxi drivers.