LAMMA ISLAND, Hong Kong – When too many thousands of big-city folks arrive on an outlying island like Lamma, the situation deteriorates lickety-split. That happened here on the Easter weekend.

As a sparsely populated place without motor vehicles, Lamma usually offers quiet serenity, a welcome refuge from the crowded, tumultuous urban districts a short ferry ride away. Not at Easter.

On those few days, long queues formed at the Lamma Pier in the Central Business District. There, city-dwellers jostled for places on the Lamma ferries. Some prospective day-trippers saw the backlog of fellow travelers and turned away. Any Lamma Islanders reaching the city gawked in amazement at the unusual sight of such queues. Then they wondered how best to battle through the masses on the way home.

Ferries filled to capacity brought thousands of extra visitors pouring into Yung Shue Wan, Lamma’s largest village. They clogged the narrow Main Street and streamed along the popular hiking trail.

Leisurely strolls or vigorous hikes amid nature’s splendor, the prospects for which attracted many of the visitors, turned problematic. Human chatter drowned out singing birds. Time spent waiting for gaps in the crowd caused delays and frayed tempers. Lineups to buy popular snacks nullified the pleasures of eating. The outlying paradise descended into aggravating congestion, no better than urban areas.

Why did so many people visit Lamma on the same few days? One theory is that the global recession has taken a terrible toll. People wanted to enjoy the holiday weekend, but no longer could afford trips to Beijing, Bangkok or Singapore. So Lamma became a cheap local alternative.

Another theory blames a popular Chinese TV show that recently interviewed a few leading Lamma Islanders about why they love the place. One big reason cited was the island’s friendliness and how its people routinely greet each other on the street.

Hopelessly outnumbered, Lamma’s 5,000-plus residents spent much of Easter hiding, avoiding the marauding hordes by ducking down side-streets and along back-alleys. There, they met friends and neighbors doing the same.

When day-visitors invade in such large numbers, Lamma Islanders react with mixed emotions. Most mutter, moan and curse, resentful that “city influences” sully their home turf. But those with shops or restaurants sniff gold in the flood of traffic.

If the sun shines next weekend too, city dwellers will invade Lamma again, but hopefully in lesser force. Too many more days like those on the Easter weekend may erode the island’s friendly hospitality.


For restaurants and shops, the
influx means potential profits.



Many more such 'invasion days' may
erode Lamma's friendly hospitality.

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