A group of 20 young people from Hong Kong, all aged 20, are in Belgium to participate in a week-long exchange programme from August 24 to 31 that saw them taking on the daunting Oxfam Trailwalker challenge on August 26 to27.
      
     Entitled "Walking the Hong Kong Spirit", the exchange programme is one of the highlight events organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The HKETO, Brussels is supporting the event to broaden the horizons and promote the participation of these 20 young people, who grew up together with the HKSAR.
      
     The exchange programme was launched in Hong Kong on January 21 by the former Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Godfrey Leung; the President of the Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association, Mr Chan Sui-hung; Belgian Consul-General in Hong Kong, Ms Michèle Deneffe; and a group of enthusiastic hikers.
      
     Although it is now a worldwide event that takes place in nine countries over four continents, the first Trailwalker was held in Hong Kong in 1981 as a Gurkha training exercise, before it was taken over by Oxfam in 1997. The strenuous effort and perseverance required to complete the arduous trail exemplify Hong Kong’s can-do spirit.
      
     For the 100-kilometre trek through the High Fens around Eupen, one of the most beautiful regions of Belgium, the 20 young people from Hong Kong were divided into five teams to walk up to 30 hours, some continuing their trek through the night to the finish, grabbing a hot drink and a snack as they passed through checkpoints along the route. Together with seven adult Hong Kong teams, they were among over 260 teams, each made up of four walkers, taking part in the event to raise money for charity.  
      
     All the Hong Kong teams completed the Trailwalker. Two of the adult Hong Kong teams finished in the first five, and two of the youth teams finished in the top 25.
      
     The Belgian team that raised the most funds was invited to take part in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2017 in Hong Kong, scheduled for November 17 to19.
      
     During their visit in Belgium, the group of 20-year-olds will learn more about Belgium and the European Union through a series of briefings by the European Commission, chambers of commerce, business associations and non-governmental organisations on topics ranging from youth policies to climate change. They will also be given guided tours to major sites around the country.

Ends/Monday, August 28, 2017
Issued at HKT 1:54

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