The taxi ban in East Dam was originally supposed to take effect on the weekend and holiday of September 13 but has surprisingly been postponed, much to the relief of many. If you were planning to hike in East Dam, you can still take a taxi directly there—save your shoes for the mountain trails! The intention behind the ban was to address the traffic congestion often seen during holiday periods following the surge of popularity for East Dam on social media. Government statistics showed that during the ‘May Day Golden Week,’ taxis filled that route, making up 60-80% of the total traffic, hence the gridlock. Initially, the government suggested a ban on taxis during peak hours (9 AM to 6 PM), intending to introduce a new minibus line (Route 9A) to help alleviate the crowds. However, the industry pushed back. Leaders like the chairman of the Sai Kung Taxi Association, Chow Kai-wing, argued against a
