The "2002 Journey West" will take place between September 13 and 27, covering some 2,000 kilometres in the western provinces of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang.

Walkers will be required to pay their own passage (estimated to be about $8,000), raise a minimum of $20,000 and walk 25 to 30 kilometres per day during the 14-day trip. Enquiries could be made with Mr Tam Yun-tak of Hong Kong Island Emergency Unit at 2841-6574.

The Friends of Hope Education Fund was established and registered as a Hong Kong charity group in 1993, with a majority of the members are serving or retired Police officers. In the past eight to nine years, the Fund has financed about 60 projects on both sides of the boundary, including the building of some 36 schools on the Mainland and seven educational finance projects in Hong Kong.