EDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1981
+AND THEY MUST INFORM THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR THEIR FAMILY WHERE THEY ARE GOING BEFORE THEY PROCEED.
+HEY SHOULD ALL WEAR BROKEN-IN, ANKLE-LENGTH HIKING BOOTS WITH TREADED RUBBER SOLES, BRING OR WEAR A WATERPROOF JACKET AND CARRY A RUCSACK TO KEEP THEIR COMPASS, WHISTLE, A MAP OF THE HIKING AREA, A SMALL RADIO TO KEEP THEMSELVES INFORMED OF "UDDEN WEATHER CH GES, ADVISED MR FORTUNE, WHO HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN ORGANISING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES HERE AND OVERSEAS.
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-A TORCH AND WHISTLE ARE AMONG THE MOST OFTEN OVERLOOKED THINGS AS PEOPLE SELDOM EXPECT TO LOSE THEIR WAY AND DO NOT REALISE THAT IF THEY DO, IT WOULD INVARIABLY BE NIGHTF ALL BY THE TIME THE RESCUE PARTY IS DISPATCHED TO SEARCH FOR THEM,+ MR FORTUNE ADDED.
DEPENDING ON THE OBJECTIVE OF THE EXPEDITION AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AN EXPEDITION MAY NEED OTHER ESSENTIAL TOOLS.
BUT TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, ESPECIALLY IF AN EXPEDITION THEY ARE STRONGLY IS MADE UP ENTIRELY OF INEXPERIENCED MEMBERS, ADVISED TO WRITE TO THE CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, CIVIL AID SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, 100 CAROLINE HILL ROAD, HONG KONG, WHO WILL ARRANGE FOR A FREE TALK ON THE SAFETY MEASURES TO TAKE OR OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS ON THE SUBJECT ENTITLED 'STEPPING OUT' AND 'SAFE CAMPING' FROM EITHER THE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING OFFICE, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, 22 ICE HOUSE STREET, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, 2ND FLOOR HONG KONG OR THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 3RD FLOOR, HONG KONG.
CENTRAL
A MAJOR ITY OF CASES TO WHICH THE MRU RESPONDED WERE THE RESULT OF CARELESSNESS AND NOT GENUINE ACCIDENTS, MR FORTUNE NOTED.
+TO GUARD AGAINST ACCIDENTS, THE IDEAL HIKING GROUP SHOULD BE MAKE UP OF A MINIMUM OF THREE PERSONS, BUT NOT TOO LARGE SO THAT SOMEONE CAN GO FOR HELP LEAVING ANOTHER TO LOOK AFTER THE INJURED IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ALSO ONE SHOULD NEVER WALK ALONE OVER THE HILLS, HE ADVISED.
ALTHOUGH NO PRECISE OFFICIAL STATISTICS WERE AVAILABLE, MR CHOW SPOKE OF A TREND IN RECENT YEARS FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO HIKING IN SUMMER THAN PREVIOUSLY.
+BUT THEY MUST REALISE THAT DANGER LURKS IN THE TRANQUIL COUNTRYSIDE FOR THE ILL-PREPARED AND FOOLHARDY AND THEY MUST KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. CARELESSNESS COULD EASILY TURN AN INVIGORATING AND ENJOYABLE COUNTRY HIKE INTO A NIGHTMARE,+ MR CHOW WARNED.
THE PERIOD BETWEEN OCTOBER-MARCH REMAINS, HOWEVER, THE
BUT THE MRÜ MOST POPULAR TIME FOR HIKING AND CLIMBING. MAINTAINS A TEAM OF ONE OFFICER AND EIGHT MEMBERS ON STANDBY DUTY AT ITS CAS KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE, 204 ARGYLE STREET KOWLOON (TEL. 3-7115011) ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM 1 PM TO 9.30 PM, WHICH IS THE TIME WHEN MOST ACCIDENTS OCCUR.
/DURING REGULAR ...............
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