A netizen uploaded photos to Facebook showing dozens of citizens, including the elderly and children, digging for clams on the beach at Starfish Bay, saying that many were there with their whole families.

The post soon went viral online and drew criticism from netizens, some even described it as an "ecological disaster".

"(Clam diggers) destroy the ecological balance and ruin the clean ocean," a comment read.

"Those having no sense of environmental protection are selfish and uneducated," another added.

Some netizens said they saw others taking buses with clams, "I saw three people carrying clams on route 99 from Sai O. One of them even used a plastic bag with holes on it, wetting the whole area around the seat."

Some questioned if they dared to eat the clams after digging, while others thought they were overreacted, "Relax, Hongkongers. We already didn't have much to do."