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LCQ7: Measures to promote hiking safety
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     Following is a question by the Hon Abraham Shek and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (March 18):

Question:

     On December 14, 2008, a total of six hikers were injured in accidents at Mai Fan Teng and Tung Wan Shan in Sai Kung, and the Government Flying Service had to send helicopters to rescue and transport them to hospital for treatment.  In September of the same year, a man tripped and fell to his death from a cliff at Lion Rock, and his body had to be removed from the scene by a helicopter.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective person-times of firemen, ambulancemen, police officers and Civil Aid Service members being deployed to rescue hikers, as well as the number of runs and the total flying hours of helicopters deployed, in each of the past three years;

(b) given the spate of hiking accidents in recent years, whether the Government has considered taking measures to enhance efforts in imparting to the public knowledge about safe hiking, with a view to reducing such accidents; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) given that hikers often find themselves in danger because of inadequate experience, lack of safety knowledge or overexertion of their physical limits, whether the Government will consider issuing danger warnings to hikers by the Hong Kong Observatory during inclement weather, and erecting warning signs at hiking trails in remote areas which are considered dangerous, so as to remind hikers that they should act according to their ability; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     Our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:

(a) Over the past three years, the person-times of firemen, ambulancemen, police officers and Civil Aid Service (CAS) members deployed to rescue hikers per year are as follows:

Person-times of firemen, ambulancemen, police officers and CAS members deployed

Year                2006     2007     2008
Firemen             8,830    9,053    9,537
Ambulancemen        2,141    2,109    2,334
Police officers     1,319    1,530    1,730
CAS members         681      1,465    736

Government Flying Service

Over the past three years, the number of runs and total flying hours of the Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopters to rescue hikers per year are as follows:

Year                           2006     2007     2008
No. of runs of helicopter       335      245      266
Flying hours                    470      348      341

(b) The Government attaches great importance to hiking safety and has disseminated information to the public to promote hiking safety by various means, including:

(i) Publishing the Safety Hints for Hiking (http://www.afcd.gov.hk/parks/trails/Eng/hiking/hike_safety_e.htm), a pamphlet with points to note and practical information for hikers to promote safe countryside trips.

(ii) Launching the HK Walkers Net (www.hkwalkers.net) which consolidates information on all trails managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).  Apart from safety tips and basic information on the trails such as the level of difficulty, maps and transportation, the webpage covers hiking skills to promote and enhance awareness of safe hiking.  In addition, the webpage is linked to other hiking websites which provide information on notices of trail repair, mobile network coverage from the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) and weather forecast by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) to facilitate the planning of hiking itinerary.

(iii) Promoting hiking safety by publishing books and pamphlets, producing announcements of public interest, organising talks and constructing hiking practice trails.

     The CAS also organises activities regularly to promote mountaineering safety.  To raise public awareness of safe hiking, the CAS held the ¡§Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2008¡¨ at its headquarters on October 25 and 26, 2008.  It was a joint effort of various government departments and voluntary agencies.  A number of mountaineering safety talks were arranged during the event to disseminate the essential safety messages to the public, and brochures containing comprehensive tips about safe mountaineering were distributed to the public for information.  The event attracted about 10,000 participants.  In 2008 the CAS organised 22 talks on mountaineering safety for schools and youth groups to enhance youngsters¡¦ knowledge of mountaineering safety.  The events attracted about 10,000 youngsters and students.  The CAS plans to launch ¡§Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day¡¨ on November 14 and 15, 2009.  It will also continue to organise mountaineering safety talks for schools and youth groups.

(c) For the time being the HKO has no plan to set up a system of danger warnings to hikers.  The HKO has a webpage ¡§Weather Information for Hiking and Mountaineering¡¨ which provides such data as regional weather, rainfall, ultraviolet index and radar images.  The HKO also provides the ¡§Dial-a-Weather¡¨ service at 1878 200 to make it easier for hikers to plan their itinerary and get weather updates.  Moreover, through public education, the HKO reminds hikers to plan their itinerary carefully and make good preparations when a very hot or cold weather warning is in force.  The public should consider cancelling outdoor activities if a thunderstorm, rainstorm or tropical cyclone warning is in force.  The public should take weather factors into consideration when planning the itinerary and pay attention to changes in weather while hiking.  Outdoor activities should be avoided in inclement weather.

     The hiking trails managed by the AFCD provide a safe environment for countryside activities.  The AFCD has set up over 300 warning signs close to creeks, bluffs and clusters of rocks along the trails to remind hikers to safeguard their own safety.  To avoid accidents, they are reminded not to leave the trails and to avoid walking along the creeks or climbing up rocks.

     The following facilities also serve to enhance hiking safety:

(i) A mark of ¡§You are here¡¨ is shown on the facilities (pavilions, message signs and bulletin boards) of the country parks and on the distance posts of the hiking trails to let hikers have a better idea of their location, and tell the rescue agencies exactly where they are when seeking help.

(ii) More than 90 emergency rescue hotlines are set up within our country parks for hikers to directly contact the Police for assistance.

(iii) The OFTA also strives to upgrade the mobile telephone network coverage so that users can seek help more easily.

     Also, through different channels including announcements of public interest on TV and internet, AFCD reminds hikers to avoid dangers by having a comprehensive hiking plan, making good preparations, and safeguard their own safety as well as safety of their companions by not overexerting their physical limits.

Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:53

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