Hikers trying to find respite from the hustle and bustle of urban living say they are frustrated by the mass of iron railings lining the city's footpaths and concrete poured over former green areas.
Vivian Leung Tai Yuet-kam, chairwoman of the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Concern Group, a local organisation of hikers in Central and Western District, said that the growing number of railings built alongside roads and trails were not only an eyesore, but served no practical purpose other than to provide work to for contractors.
Mrs Leung showed the Sunday Morning Post a few examples of railings installed by the government in the Mid-Levels. In one example, an iron fence was put up in front of a solid stone barrier built to redirect floodwater on Old Peak Road.
Elsewhere, a tiny patch of grass on a safety island at the junction of Kotewall Road and Robinson Road was enclosed by heavy green iron railings.
Railings were also installed in a section of Robinson Road, not separating pedestrians from vehicular traffic, but keeping walkers off curbside shrubs and plants.
Many residents felt like they were being kept in a cage or herded like sheep, Mrs Leung said. 'You can find them everywhere. Tall and heavy-duty railings are used to fence off even a small sitting out area. It is just a small park. Are they worried that people would climb into the park?'
The group is campaigning against a recent proposal from the Transport Department to install railings along several sections of Old Peak Road.