A popular informal camping area in Ngong Ping, Ma On Shan, was severely littered recently, highlighting a growing crisis in environmental stewardship as more residents and tourists frequent Hong Kong’s country parks. Over the weekend of November 21–22, 2025, extensive food waste and packaging were discovered scattered across the grasslands, likely due to improper rubbish disposal by overnight campers, which subsequently attracted wild animals. This incident has reignited calls for visitors to adhere strictly to countryside conduct, specifically the “pack-in, pack-out” principle.
The severity of the mess was documented by a concerned hiker who voluntarily undertook a cleanup. This individual noted that the unofficial campsite had been transformed into a dumping ground, with debris covering an area roughly half the size of a standard volleyball court. The waste—dominated by kitchen scraps and food wrappers—was found following a night of reported disturbances, including shouts and screams heard in both Cantonese and Putonghua, likely resulting from confrontations between campers and wild boars drawn by the scent of neglected food.
Improper Disposal Fuels Wildlife Conflict
The hiker, who camped alone nearby on Friday, November 21, observed that the meadow was clean at sunset but was strewn with trash by Saturday morning. He surmised that wild boars, a common sight in the Ma On Shan area, had raided improperly secured refuse and leftover sustenance during the night, scattering the debris across the open space while foraging. The resulting stench compounded the environmental damage.
The increasing volume of visitors, particularly on weekends and during group excursions, has exacerbated the problem, according to observations. The presence of packaging bearing simplified Chinese characters among the discarded items suggests a correlation between the rise in large group hikes—including those organized for mainland visitors—and the surge in solid waste left behind.
Addressing the Awareness Gap
The incident underscores a significant knowledge deficit regarding outdoor ethics amongst some park users. Contributing factors include the misunderstanding that maintenance staff will remove waste, or confusion over the intentional absence of rubbish bins in ecologically sensitive areas.
“The recurring problems—littering, scorched grass, and excessive noise—stem from a limited awareness of fundamental outdoor ethics,” the concerned hiker shared. Key areas where education is needed include:
- Handling Food Waste: Properly securing provisions and promptly removing all scraps to avoid attracting wildlife, such as wild boars, cattle, and rats.
- Fire Safety: Adhering to safe practices and avoiding open fires, which can scar the landscape and pose a risk of wildfire.
- Tranquility: Maintaining low noise levels to preserve the natural peace of the environment for both human visitors and local fauna.
Driven by the immediate concern that the strong residual smell would attract more animals, the hiker collected the scattered waste, filling a large supermarket bag in approximately ten minutes. This simple, prompt action prevented further contamination and mitigated the attraction of wildlife to the site.
Enforcing the “Leave No Trace” Philosophy
This growing challenge requires a coordinated public awareness campaign emphasizing the principles of “Leave No Trace.” All visitors to Hong Kong’s country parks and scenic hiking paths must internalize the core tenet of carrying out every piece of rubbish they bring in. Preventing food or cooking waste from contaminating the natural habitat is critical, not only for preserving the beauty of areas like Ngong Ping but also for managing human-wildlife interactions and preventing the normalization of littering within these sensitive ecosystems. Authorities should enhance both educational outreach and enforcement to safeguard these valuable natural resources for future enjoyment.