“Campsites are first come, first served. We hope that through an advanced booking system, people won’t show up and not find a spot,” said AFCD assistant director Patrick Lai Chuen-chi.

Lai compared the system to booking sports facilities at government venues. “We still need to look at how it can be implemented practically.”

To boost offerings, the department said it would look at expanding popular campsites and setting up more family-friendly digs such as glamping zones – large canvas tents with cushions and electric fans – and ecolodges.

Lai said the sites could be run by NGOs or private firms but brushed aside claims it would commercialise camping.

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“We may have to end up charging for glamping, but we will look at the associated costs and revenues,” he said.

“We’ll also work on the design of the lodges but don’t expect to find any televisions in them.”

Possible sites included Tai Mong Tsai in Sai Kung, and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island.

“As for whether we need to charge for normal campsites, we will have to listen to residents’ views. Currently, we have no inclination to do that,” Lai added.

Roy Ng Hei-man, of the Conservancy Association, said a pre-booking system would promote fairer use of campsites and curb the problem of camp occupiers.

But vetting glamping or ecolodge site operators in country park areas would have to be strict to prevent misuse, he stressed.

Ng suggested the department focus resources on improving the quality of existing park facilities that were under or over utilised.

“This would already greatly enhance their recreational and educational value,” he said.

Other ideas being considered include treetop adventure sites for activities to “deepen understanding of nature conservation” such as forest canopy walks, tree climbing and zip lining.

Visitor information hubs with toilets and kiosks would be built at park entrances and historical sites inside parks could also be turned into open-air museums. Examples included former military areas such as the Shing Mun Redoubt in Shing Mun and Pinewood Battery in Lung Fu Shan.

More viewing platforms along hiking trails built of natural materials and accessible to the physically handicapped were also being proposed.

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Paul Zimmerman, co-convener of the Save Our Country Parks Alliance, welcomed the efforts but urged the department to use more enclaves – pockets of mostly privately owned land within or on the fringes of parks – rather than virgin sites for any new development.

“There are already structures, footpaths and piers located in accessible areas, so to not use them is a real miss,” he said. “The enclaves should be taken over by the department so they can be properly managed.”

He believed the scope of activities was too narrow and failed to cater to other popular uses such as rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding and trail running.

The final proposals would only be implemented in select parks, and no timeline or cost estimate has been provided for the enhancements.

Results of the consultation will be presented to the Country and Marine Parks Board once completed.