Fifteen hikers died in Hong Kong last year compared with seven the year before, the environment secretary has revealed.
Wong Kam-sing, made the announcement in response to a written question raised by lawmaker Yiu Si-wing over hiking safety.
Wong also revealed that 175 people were injured in hiking accidents last year, down from 269 in 2016.
The environment secretary reminded hikers to stick to trails that are managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), information on which can be found on the government’s “Enjoy Hiking” website.
Several of hiking deaths last year occurred at areas known to be hazardous.
This included a 69-year-old village head who slipped down the side of “dog teeth range” in Lantau — which is known as one of the city’s most challenging trails — and a 48-year-old woman who fell after losing her footing on Kowloon Peak’s “suicide cliff.”
Earlier this month, a 25-year Nepali man died shortly after being pulled unconscious from the Quadruplex Pools, a popular diving spot in Sai Kung, that was listed as an “accident blackspot” or a “high risk location” where accidents and fatalities have occurred.
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, another hiking incident occurred though this time related to hot whether rather than a fall.
The woman, surnamed Law was hiking with friends on Yuk Kwai Shan in Ap Lei Chau, ignoring the “very hot” weather warning that was issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. According to the observatory, temperatures in the Aberdeen area near Ap Lei Chau were around 34 degrees Celsius.
Law was suspected to have suffered from a heat stroke and was airlifted to hospital after police received a call at about 1pm.
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