WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1981
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THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A SIX-DAY REFRESHER COURSE ON ADVANCED MOUNTAINCRAFT EACH YEAR.
IN ADDITION, A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT IS CARRIED OUT BIENNIALLY BY AN INSPECTOR OF LAND RESCUE FROM THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF APPRAISING THE UNIT'S ABILITY, UPDATING TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT AND SUGGESTING WAYS AND MEANS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE NEXT INSPECTION WILL TAKE PLACE IN 1982.
THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN MORE A SOURCE OF PRIDE THAN A CAUSE FOR DROPPING OUT IN THE UNIT, MR FORTUNE SAID.
HE DESCRIBED THE UNIT'S MORALE AS +EXTREMELY HIGH+, A FACT BORNE OUT BY THE AVERAGE SERVING PERIOD OF MORE THAN SIX YEARS AMONG UNIT MEMBERS.
MR CHOW KA-PO, WHO QUALIFIED AS A MOUNTAIN RESCUER IN 1971 AND IS THE CURRENT DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE MRU, SPOKE FOR MANY OTHER MRU MEMBERS WHEN HE EXPLAINED WHY THEY ARE WILLING TO UNDERGO SUCH RIGOROUS TRAINING TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT OFTEN HAZARDOUS TASKS IN THE IR PRIVATE LEISURE HOURS AT ONLY TOKEN REMUNERATION FOR EXPENSES INCURRED.
+IT'S REALLY, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE SATISFACTION OF PERFORMING A VITALLY IMPORTANT JOB REQUIRING EXPERTISE THAT COULD SAVE A HUMAN LIFE ..... YOU SHOULD SEE THE RELIEF ON THE FACES OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE HELPED.+
+ IT'S ALSO, OF COURSE, FOR THE LOVE OF NATURE AND THE SPORT (OF ROCK CLIMBING AND HIKING) AND THE JOB PROVIDES US AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO INDULGE IN BOTH. A TRUE CHALLENGE.
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+EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THE UNIT IS THE ONLY ORGANISED MOUNTAIN RESCUE GROUP IN HONG KONG AND AS SUCH, IT HAS ALSO THE IMPLICIT RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD AND PASSING ON SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF CLIMBERS. BY SETTING OURSELVES GOOD EXAMPLES, WE ALSO HELP PROMOTE SAFETY AND A HEALTHY IMAGE FOR THE SPORT, MR CHOW ADDED.
CLEARLY, THEN, HIKING AND MOUNTAINING ARE NO CHILD'S PLAY. BUT THE SILLY WAY+ SOME NORMALLY RESPONSIBLE ADULTS, WHO SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, PREPARED THE IR EXPEDITIONS INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE COULD DRIVE A KNOWLEDGEABLE OUTDOORSMAN UP A MOUNTAIN WALL, MR FORTUNE LAMENTED.
+DESPITE OUR PERIODICAL SAFETY CAMPAIGNS AND PUBLIC APPEALS TO HIKERS AND CLIMBERS TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, WE STILL SEE PEOPLE GOING INTO COUNTRY PARKS AND UP MOUNTAINS UNSUITABLY CLAD AND WITHOUT THE PROPER EQUIPMENT.+
+SOME WERE DRESSED ONLY IN HAWAIIAN SHIRTS, SHORTS, SNEAKERS AND EVEN PLASTIC FLIP FLAPS. LET ME EMPHASISE THAT EVEN FOR A CASUAL EXPEDITION INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE GROUP MUST PREFERABLY BE LED BY SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA THEY WISH TO EXPLORE.