| 1. |
In assessing the level of difficulty of a hiking route, we have made reference to the grading adopted by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) and the information provided by the Country and Marine Parks Authority, taking into account factors including the length, gradient and surface condition of the route, as well as the time required to finish the whole trip. When calculating the time required to finish the whole trip, we have referred to William W. Naismith¡¦s rule relating to hiking speed (i.e. a speed of five to six kilometres per hour for walking on a flat road, and three minutes for ascending 20 metres). The levels of difficulty of the trails covered in this website are classified into ¡§Easy¡¨, ¡§Moderate¡¨ , ¡§Difficult¡¨ or ¡§Very Difficult¡¨ . Please plan your hiking itinerary and choose a suitable route according to the ability of your team members. |
| 2. | Pay attention to the weather report and forecast for the hiking day. Avoid hiking when the Thunderstorm Warning and/or Rainstorm Warning Signals are in force, or when the weather condition is unstable. Latest weather information can be obtained from following webpages:
Weather Information for Hiking and Mountaineering webpage
MyObservatory ¡V Weather at your location
Hong Kong Observatory website
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| 3. | The transportation information provided in this website is for reference only. Hikers should choose a transport route most suitable for themselves before setting off. |
| 4. | Each person should carry at least one litre of drinking water and some carbohydrate food (such as biscuits or bread) which is light and easy to carry and does not require re-heating. |
| 5. |
Put on casual clothes, light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and hiking shoes with ankle protection and rubber corrugated soles. Bring along a suitable cap that can protect you from sunlight in summer and keep you warm in winter. |
| 6. | Bring along a fully charged mobile phone and a spare battery so that you can call for help immediately in case of an accident. |
| 7. |
Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight in hot weather. Drink more water and replenish the electrolytes lost. Take appropriate breaks during the journey. Don't overextend yourself as this will lead to exhaustion. In addition, hikers should be able to distinguish between heat stroke and heat exhaustion so that the right information can be provided to rescuers in case of an accident (See Point 22 for details). |
| 8. | To prevent insect and mosquito bites, you may apply DEET-containing mosquito repellent onto your clothes and over the exposed parts of your skin. |
| 9. | Don't go hiking alone. It is preferable to go hiking in a group of at least four. Before setting out, hikers should inform their family members or friends (who are not joining the trip) of their itinerary. Should accident happen, the information will be useful for them to seek help from the police and ask for other assistance. |
| 10. | Follow the decisions and instructions of the experienced hiking leader, if there is one. Don't leave your team halfway or walk alone. |
| 11. | Do enough warm-up exercise before hiking. |
| 12. | Don't eat wild fruits or drink untreated water from any mountain stream or brook. |
| 13. | Don't play with stray cats, dogs or wild monkeys to avoid being attacked. |
| 14. | Don't venture into bushes or forests indiscriminately. |
| 15. | To avoid getting lost or any accident, don't deviate from the planned route indiscriminately or attempt to take any overgrown short cuts. |
| 16. | Avoid standing at a cliff edge or climbing onto rocks to take photos or view the scenery. For your safety, follow the instructions as set out in notices put up by the relevant authorities. |
| 17. | Avoid going near/staying around steep slopes or wading in streams or brooks during heavy rain or after days of heavy rain. Don't take shelter from rain under bridges at water courses as raging torrents may suddenly sweep over you. |
| 18. | Don't light a fire or cook at non-designated barbecue sites or campsites. |
| 19. | All cigarette-stubs and matches must be totally extinguished before discarding them into litter boxes. |
| 20. | When there is a hill fire, stay calm. |
| 21. |
Pay attention to the hazard warning signs erected by government departments along the route. |
| 22. | In case of an accident, hikers can call for help with the fixed-network emergency helpline telephones installed along the route. They can also dial 999 or the international emergency call number 112 with their mobile phones to call for help. When seeking assistance, the following information should be provided clearly: |
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| (a) |
Nature and cause of the accident; |
| (b) | Time and location of the accident; |
| (c) |
Position, grid reference and the number of the nearest distance post*; |
| (d) |
Terrain and special landmarks in the vicinity; |
| (e) | Personal particulars of the injured (including his/her name, age, sex, telephone number, residential address and condition of injury); |
| (f) | First aid given; |
| (g) | Weather condition; and |
| (h) | State and movement of other team members. |
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| 23. | Those who suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease and asthma are advised to consult the doctor before deciding to go hiking and ask for information that require attention. |
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