The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held a launch ceremony for the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Campaign 2018 with several government departments and mountaineering organisations at Ma On Shan Country Park today (May 6) to raise public awareness of mountaineering safety. About 500 people attended the ceremony.

     Addressing the ceremony, the Commissioner of the CAS, Dr Ernest Lee, said that the CAS would join the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in the promotion of mountaineering safety in high-risk locations, following record numbers of fatal and serious accidents in country parks. CAS members and AFCD personnel also distributed promotional materials today at the starting points of popular hiking trails to convey the message of mountaineering safety.

     Other officiating guests at the ceremony were the Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Cheung Tat-yin; the Assistant Director of Lands, Mr Leung Kin-wah; the Assistant Director of the Office of the Communications Authority, Mr Sammy Li; the Acting Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Lee Lap-shun; the Chief Pilot of the Government Flying Service, Mr Wu Wai-hung; the Chief Staff Officer of the Auxiliary Medical Service, Mr Hui Wai-kwong; Senior Country Parks Officer of the AFCD, Mr Alfred Wong; Senior Divisional Officer of the Fire Services Department, Mr Ronald Wong; and the Leisure Manager of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Mr Aaron Chan.

     The Mountaineering Safety Promotion Campaign is aimed at raising public awareness of mountaineering safety and preventing hiking accidents. To align with the theme of the campaign, the CAS, in collaboration with various government departments and mountaineering organisations, will organise talks, visits, workshops and adventure activities this year to promote mountaineering safety to the public.

Ends/Sunday, May 6, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:45

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