Principles of Ecotourism

• Respect our land. If we failed to protect our environment, our offspring might not be able to enjoy the uniqueness and beauty of the nature.
• Leave your footprint and take pictures only. No painting on rocks. No littering. Do not take anything from historical buildings and the nature.
• Understand local geography, culture, custom and cultures so as to make your journey more meaningful. Listen to local people’s conversation and engage them into protecting the environment.
• Respect other people. Only take pictures when permitted.
• Follow designated trails. Do not scare animals and damage their habitats. Do not destroy plants and do not touch living creatures.
• Understand and support environmental protection. Actively participate in those activities.
• Walk on foot or take the transportation that poses less harm to our environment. Encourage drivers to turn off the engine when the car is not in motion.

Code of conduct for dolphin watching

• Keep a distance when watching dolphins. Do not try to touch, feed or harm dolphins in the wild.
• Upon seeing a dolphin, slow down or stop the boat. Do not change the direction out of a sudden. Keep the speed below 10 sea miles.
• When watching dolphins, the boat should be slowly driven along with dolphins.
• Do not approach dolphins from the front. Approach them from the side and must not change the direction out of a sudden and reverse the boat.
• Only one dolphin-watching boat at a time should be present within the range of 500 meters where the dolphin is located.
• Do not chase after dolphins or cross their swimming route. Do not separate mother from the child or a group of dolphins. Do not force dolphins to go near the boat, fish nets or shallow water.
• Respect the dolphins. Let them come close.
• When watching dolphins swimming after a fishing boat, please note that:
  the dolphin-watching boat should slowly turn its direction and follow the buoy at the end of the fishing net;
  the dolphin-watching boat should not speed up and leave immediately after the fishing net is collected. The boat should leave at a low speed when all dolphins are gone.

Code of conduct for bird watching

• Dress in dark colour. Avoid bright colours like red, yellow, orange and so on.
• Keep your pace light. When seeing birds or nests, keep a distance and keep quiet. Keep disturbance to the lowest.
• Never destroy or harm the habitats or bird nests. Keep a distance from the nests so as not to disturb the birds.
• Hunting birds or picking bird eggs are illegal and will be subject to prosecution.
• Do not disturb other people such as landlords, farmers or hikers when watching birds.
• Never shine the spotlight directly on nocturnal birds.
• Do not chase after birds. The best and most interesting way to observe birds is to be patient and relaxed so that you can observe their behavior and appreciate life.
• City is the best learning place for starters. Get to know the birds near the area you live first. Then go to observe water birds in wetland. Once you master the basic bird watching skills, you can go observe jungle birds.

Code of conduct for butterfly and firefly watching

• Hong Kong is a sub-tropical region where you can observe butterflies throughout the year but of different species. There are more species to be observed from March to November.
• The best time to observe butterflies are 9am to 11am and after 7pm.
• Dress in dark colour. Avoid bright colours like red, yellow, orange and so on.
• It is not allowed to collect butterflies or fireflies and their eggs, larvae and cocoons.
• Avoid observation during rain season or in area where flooding may occur.
• Do not damage habitats of butterflies and fireflies.
• Do not shine the torch directly on fireflies. Use cellophane to filter the light.
• Do not use flash when taking pictures for fireflies.

Code of conduct for rock appreciation, visiting villages and tree appreciation

• Pay attention to the environment when observing rocks, especially the cliff.
• Do not move the stones on shore in case you may destroy the habitat of some sea creatures and hurt them.
• No painting on rocks.
• Do not take anything away from the nature, including rocks.
• When visiting villages, be aware of the ownership of the buildings.
• Learn local custom and respect local people, history and culture.
• Do not shout so as not to disturb local villagers.
• Do not take away anything. Cherish and protect heritages.
• Control the number of visitors. Avoid overcrowding.
• Do not pick anything from trees as they all have their own functions.
• In order not to breach the Country Parks Ordinance, never pick any plants.
• Do not hang any heavy objects on tress or scrape, nail and paint the tree trunks.
• Learn the features of trees but avoid touching sap as it may cause allergy.
• Avoid doing plant research along in remote rural area.

Code of conduct for watching sea creatures

• Never drop the anchor in coral area.
• Never collect, disturb or harm any sea creatures.
• Never touch the coral or other sea creatures. Some animals may be dangerous.
• When strolling along the shore, especially when tide is low, do not tramp on corals.
• Do not feed sea creatures.
• Avoid entering coral area in shallow water. When entering coral area in deep water, keep the speed low and be more cautious.
• Do not conduct scuba-diving training in coral area.
• Do not stand or rest on corals.
• Do not use harpoon to catch fish.