Campers and hikers have urged Hong Kong authorities to step up public education, law enforcement and impose foot traffic limits at campsites after some areas were flooded with visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday.

A visit by the South China Morning Post on Saturday to Ham Tin Wan, a beach in Sai Kung, found about 50 visitors and 30 tents. Empty plastic bottles, used tissue paper and chocolate wrappers were seen lying on the sand and in bushes and shrubs.

Officers from the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) were out in force inspecting the site and telling campers to take their litter home.

At a public toilet, scraps of food and rice clogged the sink and covered the floor before cleaners arrived, despite signs that said the basins were not for discarding food or washing utensils.

“If you educate people better and raise awareness, you do not have to spend so much manpower on cleaning,” said a 54-year-old local clerk who gave his name as Wong.

“If … [officials] tally the number of people at campsites, set a cap and divert extra foot traffic to other campsites, wouldn’t this be more effective?”