HONG KONG: Switching gears and gear, two teams comprising eight soldiers from the PLA Hong Kong Garrison are, on November 20, going to march - and race - to a very different drummer. On behalf of charity and representing their garrison, the octet will be participating in the Oxfam Trailwalker fundraiser, the largest hiking fundraising event in Hong Kong, alongside ordinary citizens and social service groups that will be scrambling to finish the course first.

What the dauntless soldiers will be facing and trudging are 22 mountains along the rugged 100 km trail across the New Territories from Sai Kung to Yuen Long. The highest point in Hong Kong, Tai Mo Shan at 957 meters, is also included in the trails and trials of their "long march" - a trek they must complete within 48 hours.

Not only pitted against the challenging and varied formations of nature, the eight soldiers are also going to be cheek-to-jowl with phalanxes of other teams - 1,100 in all, with 4,400 or so other participants - from many different countries and all "walks" of life.

The Trailwalker activity is held to raise money to fight poverty and climate change. To participate in this event, the Hong Kong Garrison donated two treasures: at least HK$70,000 as well as its boots on the ground. "They offered both money and efforts," said Bernard Chan, chairman of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee.

Although the Hong Kong Garrison has been stationed in Hong Kong since 1997, the soldiers are not familiar with the city's environment due to limited time and opportunities for exposure to it. To compensate for this, the soldiers are hustling to familiarize themselves with the terrain that awaits them.

Since August, the Hong Kong Garrison has been carrying out training sessions, including field adaptation and basic physical fitness training. The soldiers have also learned the necessary knowledge for sunstroke prevention, long marches and wilderness first aid. "We have an average of eight hours of training per day," said Captain Yang Changbing, coach of the Hong Kong Garrison teams.

The most difficult part will be the trails of Kai Kung Shan and Ma On Shan. The Shing Mun Reservoir part is also not an easy trail because the teams have to walk through it at night, said Yang Changbing.

"Many soldiers would like to register for this hiking event," said Major General Wang Junli, deputy commander of the Hong Kong Garrison. Among the eight selected, one is a Sergeant Officer, five are Senior Privates and the remaining two are of lower rank - all being between 18 and 22.

"We will participate in this event every year," Wang said.

Although well prepared, the Hong Kong Garrison doesn't want to predict the outcome. "Friendship first, competition second," said Liu Liangjin, one of the participating soldiers.

This is not the first time for the Hong Kong Garrison to contribute to the city's life. Each year, the army donates the most blood and has also planted over 40,000 trees in Hong Kong over the past 12 years.

(HK Edition 11/13/2009 page1)