Restaurants in To Kwa Wan and Hung Hom were asked by the Travel Industry Authority yesterday to implement crowd control measurements as complaints from residents in the areas affected soared over mainland tourist crowds flocking into streets and bringing noise and traffic congestion.

Under the new arrangements, tour groups were asked to finish meals within half an hour in Sung On Street’s restaurants and not block the streets.

A large number of police officers were also seen patrolling and monitoring the street, where railings were placed to separate crowds.

"Half an hour is enough to eat although the cuisine is quite simple," said Zhang, a female tour group visitor from Jiangxi province.

"We just abide by the rules of our group and follow every arrangement," said a visitor, Ms. Xu, from Henan province.

"The crowding situation was greatly improved, but restaurants may need more people to help maintain orders of tour group diners under the crowd control arrangement," said the executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, Timothy Chui Ting-pong, at a radio program today.

He added restaurants might face increased operating costs, calling for more restaurants to receive tour groups or to provide group meals.