Walking to Beijing
Walkers Law, Ling and Tse with PSB officers on the road in Hunan
Accompanied by retired RHKP officers Tse Chung Shing and Law Ping Kwan, Senior Inspector of Traffic Hong Kong Island Ling Kim-kwong phoned OFFBEAT last week while en route through Hunan Province in China to report on the progress of a great and worthwhile journey . . .
THE trio, along with 14 other members and their support team of seven, are currently participating in the Sowers Action "Walk to Beijing" to raise funds and awareness aimed at improving the basic educational needs of children in the mountainous regions of China.
"The distance between Hong Kong and the Great Wall is about 2,800 kilometres -Ð we have finished half of it," reported SIP Ling. "Although Tse, Law and I do not officially represent the RHKP, its reputation is of great help. All along the way Chinese Public Security Officers and traffic police have gone out of their way to be accommodating. Many walk along with us through their districts. We talk about the charity, but also exchange respective policing experiences. We feel like ambassadors of the RHKP."
Walkers in the event have been helped by PSB officers with crowd control and by traffic police who have blocked off roadways for the participants in cities and provinces along the route.
"To manage an event like this walk, the route planning, resources and manpower provided by the PSB and other police in China had to be fully committed -Ð and they are," says SIP Ling, who along with his team members walks about 25 kilometres a day -Ð about the distance between Sha Tin and Lo Wu. They are on the move six days a week, whatever the weather, and whether or not they're tired and aching.
"Although we've tried our best to maintain the daily average distance, thirteen of our volunteer walkers are heeding medical advice from the support team and have taken a day off to rest," says Mr Ling, whose feet are holding out. He hasn't gotten sick nor injured yet.
As one of the initiators of the "Walk to Beijing", Ling spent two years in preparation for the event including recruiting, training, organising the walking team, and acquiring suitable equipment and support people.
Although this is the eighth time he has participated in a Sowers Action activity, which includes three charity walks to Guangzhou and inspections of construction projects funded by the organisation, the 2,800-kilometre walk to the Wall has been one of the toughest.
"A long-distance walk such as this is even more demanding and challenging than I imagined," says SIP Ling. "It requires complete physical fitness and strong will-power. The journey is tough but the experience is unforgettable."
So memorable that even before completing the first walk, SIP Ling has decided to repeat the charity walk again in three years. "I plan to walk alone from Hong Kong to the Great Wall in 2000. Indeed, two Public Security Officers in Hupai have agreed to accompany me from the start to the finish as my personal bodyguards," he said.
The walk to the Wall continues come rain or come shine
Stone Buddha protects the walkers along the route
RHKP colleagues who want to make a donation (or send a note of encouragement), can write the Sowers Action, Flat B, 21/F, 10 Hong Man Street, Chai Wan.
|
