https://www.scmp.com/rss/522321/feed The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is a Hong Kong-based governmental body dedicated to conserving the natural environment and safeguarding ecological integrity. Its primary mission includes facilitating sustainable agricultural and fisheries production, protecting public health, and managing country and marine parks. The AFCD is responsible for biodiversity conservation, controlling endangered species trade, and providing technical support to local farmers and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s natural beauty, one of its greatest assets, is also ecologically vulnerable. Reminders of that abounded during the mainland’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday. At Sharp Island, where thousands flocked to the city’s Unesco global geopark, the authorities issued about 300 verbal warnings. At Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park, the sheer number of visitors camping, some using hotpots, underscored the problem. On Saturday evening, an estimated 500 tents at the campsite included... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Members of unlicensed hiking tours were among the hundreds of visitors who packed into Hong Kong’s Ham Tin Wan campsite on the second day of mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” break. The sink at the scenic Sai Kung hotspot’s only public bathroom was left clogged by food scraps after some visitors opted for hotpot. On Saturday evening, a South China Morning Post reporter estimated there were about 500 tents at the campsite. According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352243/how-unlicensed-mainland-chinese-tour-groups-cash-hong-kong-campsites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352243/how-unlicensed-mainland-chinese-tour-groups-cash-hong-kong-campsites?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 01:00:26 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities issued 300 verbal warnings to people visiting Sharp Island on the first day of mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday, when thousands flocked to see attractions in the city’s Unesco Global Geopark. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Saturday that the 3,000 visitors to Sharp Island a day earlier had “exceeded expectations”, prompting the deployment of additional frontline staff. Sai Kung district has become a popular tourist destination... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352225/300-verbal-warnings-issued-sharp-island-visitors-labour-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352225/300-verbal-warnings-issued-sharp-island-visitors-labour-day?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 10:40:00 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities will cordon off parts of the shoreline of Sharp Island in Sai Kung to protect corals, with 1,000 visitors expected in the area each day during the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also said on Monday that 11 officers would patrol the island daily during the holiday, while five marine staff – two snorkellers and three kayakers – would monitor the sea for any disruptive visitor behaviour. The department said it... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351614/hong-kong-block-parts-sharp-island-shoreline-protect-corals-over-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351614/hong-kong-block-parts-sharp-island-shoreline-protect-corals-over-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Shortly before the evening rush hour recently, chaos erupted at Hong Kong’s Wu Kai Sha MTR station when a wild boar stormed through the concourse. The animal, about 1.2 metres long and weighing around 40kg, knocked down an elderly man. The charging boar left a trail of blood on the station floor, injuring three other residents in a frenzied dash towards a nearby bus terminus and housing estates. “I saw it rampaging at the bus terminus while residents followed, snapping photos,” a woman working... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Excitement about an influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year “golden week” was tarnished by the sight of some rural Hong Kong beaches being turned into congested tent cities. It is good that the authorities are considering fees and other solutions to counter holiday rushes. The problem was obvious on beaches in Sai Kung, where more than 900 tents were pitched along Ham Tin Wan. At nearby Sai Wan, nearly half of the campers had illegally pitched shelters outside designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities are looking at implementing a booking system and charging fees for camping hotspots as part of a review of management strategies in response to public concerns about overcrowded beaches and litter during the Lunar New Year holiday. The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) posted its plan on its Facebook page on Sunday after campers and hikers called for stronger public education, law enforcement and limits on visitor numbers at popular sites. At Ham... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344274/hong-kong-eyes-booking-system-fees-after-campers-overrun-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344274/hong-kong-eyes-booking-system-fees-after-campers-overrun-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:07:44 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong wildlife protection authorities have recorded 23 cases of smuggled orchids in the first month of the year, with the number expected to rise in the coming weeks as Lunar New Year approaches. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also pledged to step up patrols and enforcement at borders during the holiday season, when such crimes tend to peak. Endangered Species Protection Officer Jenny Lau Yuen-yung said the department discovered 23 cases of illegally imported orchids... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342772/23-cases-smuggled-orchids-recorded-holiday-demand-swells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342772/23-cases-smuggled-orchids-recorded-holiday-demand-swells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 02:00:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong animal rights activists have called on the government to create a list of approved pets after an abandoned 85kg (187lbs) alligator snapping turtle was found eating fish in a New Territories pond. They also called on authorities to microchip turtles sold to the public, toughen penalties for letting pets loose in the wild and update the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance before pushing further ahead with a “pet-friendly” society. Bon Chan Chung-pong, founder of Turtle’s Inn, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hundreds of mainland Chinese tourists flocked to Hong Kong’s popular Sunset Peak on Saturday, drawn by scenic silver grass and an album cover by Cantopop star Eason Chan from 15 years ago, with hikers mostly avoiding runners taking part in a high-profile international trail race. Authorities had earlier warned hikers to be mindful of competitors in the TransLantau by UTMB event, four challenging races on Lantau Island of 25km, 50km, 80km and 120km distances being held from Friday to Sunday. Some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332887/be-mindful-trail-runners-passing-hong-kongs-sunset-peak-hikers-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332887/be-mindful-trail-runners-passing-hong-kongs-sunset-peak-hikers-told?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 00:00:21 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong authorities will assess the capacity of some popular tourist hotspots and step up efforts to educate visitors, aiming to balance environmental protection with tourism, following incidents of visitors trampling on coral in a geopark during the “golden week” holiday. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Tuesday that his administration was conducting a study that would include ecologically important sites within marine park protected areas to strengthen coastal conservation. Lee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3328914/hong-kong-review-tourist-capacity-and-marine-protection-amid-coral-damage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3328914/hong-kong-review-tourist-capacity-and-marine-protection-amid-coral-damage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:33:44 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Damaged coral reefs in a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong may take years to recover, environmentalists have warned after a government investigation found that an area of about four square metres (43 sq ft) had been affected. Thousands of tourists flocked to Sharp Island in Sai Kung during mainland China’s National Day “golden week” holiday earlier this month, with some trampling on corals while snorkelling and digging up marine organisms. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3328608/damaged-coral-reefs-hong-kong-may-take-years-recover-green-groups-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3328608/damaged-coral-reefs-hong-kong-may-take-years-recover-green-groups-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 02:30:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Overcrowding at a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday is not expected to have a “significant impact” on coral colonies, the city’s environment chief has said, stressing that authorities will assess the health of the reefs near an outlying island and review crowd control measures. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Monday that the damage to coral reefs off Sharp Island in Sai Kung was not extensive, after tourists were seen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327961/crowds-outlying-hong-kong-island-wont-have-major-impact-corals-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327961/crowds-outlying-hong-kong-island-wont-have-major-impact-corals-official?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 04:01:49 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong will step up patrols at a Unesco Global Geopark for the rest of the National Day “golden week” break after hordes of tourists flooded the place, with some trampling on corals and starting fires. The Environment and Ecology Bureau on Sunday said that staff from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) together with officers from the police force and Marine Department launched a joint operation on Sharp Island, also known as Kiu Tsui Chau, in Sai Kung. It said that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327926/hong-kong-steps-patrols-after-golden-week-tourists-overrun-sai-kung-island?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327926/hong-kong-steps-patrols-after-golden-week-tourists-overrun-sai-kung-island?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:44:34 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Some tourists have been camping, cooking over open fires and removing marine creatures washed ashore in a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong, potentially violating park rules and posing an ecological threat, the Post has found. Visitors who talked to the Post on Saturday were also split about how the park could be better protected – some suggested crowd control measures, while others questioned how authorities could balance such measures with the tourism experience. The Post’s visit followed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327885/tourist-activities-hong-kong-geopark-island-potentially-violate-park-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327885/tourist-activities-hong-kong-geopark-island-potentially-violate-park-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:56:53 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Hong Kong has widened its recognition of veterinary health certificates for cats and dogs imported from mainland China, expanding from only Shenzhen to all regions across the border. Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department revealed on Tuesday that it was now accepting animal health certificates issued by official veterinarians from all customs authorities on the mainland. The city started recognising certificates issued by official veterinarians of Shenzhen Customs on June... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327352/hong-kong-accept-mainland-chinese-health-certificates-imported-cats-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327352/hong-kong-accept-mainland-chinese-health-certificates-imported-cats-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:19:56 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong authorities have prepared transport and crowd control measures ahead of the National Day celebrations at key locations such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge and High Island Reservoir East Dam. The government revealed on Monday a string of targeted measures for the East Dam in Sai Kung, an attraction especially popular among mainland Chinese travellers but lacking in transport options. The Transport Department said minibus operators would extend weekday services during mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327275/hong-kong-rolls-out-transport-crowd-control-measures-national-day-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327275/hong-kong-rolls-out-transport-crowd-control-measures-national-day-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:11:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A severely decomposed 10-metre-long (33-foot-long) whale carcass has been found in Mirs Bay, Hong Kong conservation authorities have said. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Friday that it had received a police report the previous day about the discovery of a carcass in Mirs Bay, a body of water off northeastern Hong Kong near the Sai Kung peninsula and bordering mainland China. It said a preliminary assessment by a veterinarian from Ocean Park’s response team found... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324573/10-metre-whale-carcass-discovered-mirs-bay-hong-kong-authorities-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324573/10-metre-whale-carcass-discovered-mirs-bay-hong-kong-authorities-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 23:30:07 +0000 Timon Johnson,Ellie Yau Timon Johnson,Ellie Yau At the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, a fisherman surveys his day’s stock of fish, planning to sell his multicoloured inventory to numerous restaurants and street stalls across Hong Kong. But as he waits along the main corridor for a customer, only his competitors fill the area. “Business has been very difficult,” the 43-year-old fisherman surnamed Hua said. “This [market] is already the biggest hub for the industry.” The lack of demand for his product highlights one of many challenges... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323802/struggling-stay-afloat-hong-kong-fishermen-reeling-amid-industry-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323802/struggling-stay-afloat-hong-kong-fishermen-reeling-amid-industry-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 04:40:30 +0000 Mathias Woo Mathias Woo Hong Kong has long celebrated its status as a “culinary paradise” – a city where East meets West across steaming bamboo baskets and sizzling skillets. Yet behind the Michelin stars and street food fame, the city’s food and drink industry is quietly unravelling. Soaring rents, a deepening labour shortage, fractured supply chains and a vanishing pool of culinary talent have left businesses scrambling. In response, policymakers and industry leaders have embraced one particular remedy: the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322680/5-step-recipe-revival-hong-kongs-food-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3322680/5-step-recipe-revival-hong-kongs-food-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 22:30:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities will explore the use of a mosquito-eat-mosquito strategy deployed by a mainland Chinese city at the epicentre of a recent outbreak of chikungunya fever to control the disease’s spread, with one more imported case recorded on Tuesday. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told lawmakers at a special meeting on Tuesday that the government planned to test Foshan’s biological control strategies to curb the spread of the chikungunya virus in Hong Kong, which had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3321620/hong-kong-look-mosquito-eat-mosquito-strategy-tackle-chikungunya-fever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3321620/hong-kong-look-mosquito-eat-mosquito-strategy-tackle-chikungunya-fever?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:52:21 +0000 Lorraine Chiang Lorraine Chiang A huge farm in northern Hong Kong was submerged in around three hours during Typhoon Wipha, causing about 70,000 sunflowers to wilt and leaving a 73-year-old farmer with six-figure losses. Leung Yat-shun, a farmer at Shun Sum Yuen farm in San Tin, said on Saturday that he and three colleagues had spent about 10 weeks to grow tens of thousands of sunflowers to shoulder height, but their efforts were in vain within hours of Typhoon Wipha hitting the city last weekend. “During the typhoon, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319705/typhoon-wipha-batters-hong-kong-sunflower-farm-leaving-owner-73-6-figure-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319705/typhoon-wipha-batters-hong-kong-sunflower-farm-leaving-owner-73-6-figure-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:30:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong has recorded a roughly 11 per cent drop in the number of feral pigeons found at common gathering spots after an expanded no-feeding law took effect, according to authorities who are planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) patrol robots to enhance enforcement. The number of feral pigeons stood at about 12,090 during the first quarter of this year, down by about 11 per cent from around 13,520 in the previous three months, across 140 spots in the city where birds gathered or caused a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3316988/hong-kongs-feral-pigeon-population-drops-11-hotspots-amid-feeding-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3316988/hong-kongs-feral-pigeon-population-drops-11-hotspots-amid-feeding-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 04:00:14 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Hong Kong launched a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) in 2016, which is now due for an update. The two-month public... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3316093/precious-public-input-needed-protect-hong-kongs-biodiversity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3316093/precious-public-input-needed-protect-hong-kongs-biodiversity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 03:30:08 +0000