HK doubles daily entry quota for independent tourists visiting Sha Tau Kok

Hong Kong has doubled its daily entry quota for independent tourists visiting Sha Tau Kok to 600 starting in April. There will also be no quota limit for tour groups on weekdays, according to the Security Bureau. 

Established to prevent illegal migrants and other illegal activities from Mainland China and elsewhere by land and sea, Sha Tau Kok is a restricted area where travellers need to apply for a closed area permit to enter the area. Starting from 1 December 2023, Hong Kong residents and overseas visitors can apply for a tourism closed area permit through Hong Kong Police Force’s online applications platform.

On 1 January, Hong Kong's leader John Lee announced the second phase opening-up of Sha Tau Kok. 700 tour group visitors and 300 individual tourists per day are allowed to visit all parts of Sha Tau Kok, except Chung Ying Street, after applying online for a closed area permit (CAP).

It aims to allow more people to learn about the history, culture, and natural geological features of Sha Tau Kok and nearby outlying islands, and promote cultural and eco-tourism.

To enhance convenience for citizens, the Security Bureau will double the quota for individual tourists to 600 per day starting from 1 April 2024. Meanwhile, the quota for tour groups on weekdays will be eliminated. Tour groups held on weekdays will no longer require a quota and can directly apply for restricted area permits.

Citizens can apply for additional quota-restricted area permits on a first-come, first-served basis through the online platform of the police force starting today (25 March 2024). 

Furthermore, starting in April, citizens who want to visit Hong Kong Geopark (香港地質公園) and Sha Tau Kok on the same day can apply for a tourism closed area permit to visit before they take the ferry from the outlying islands to Sha Tao Kok. The arrangement aims to make it more convenient for visitors to visit and explore Sha Tau Kok. 

Lee previously said the restricted area had recorded more than 860 tour groups and around 34,000 tourists since the opening of the Sha Tau Kok Ferry Terminal in June 2022, demonstrating the uniqueness, appeal, and significant tourism value of Sha Tau Kok.

As part of the Sha Tau Kok opening plan, a new "outlying islands tour" (外島遊) circular route is launched, taking advantage of the proximity to the nearby Geopark. This aims to allow visitors to conveniently explore the outlying islands near Sha Tau Kok, promoting nature, cultural, and ecological tourism.

The daily tourist quota under the second phase opening-up of Sha Tau Kok includes 700 tour group visitors and 300 individual tourists. Tourists can visit all parts of Sha Tau Kok, except Chung Ying Street, from 7am to 9pm.

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