On a very chilly day on January 12, four members of the Force joined seven members and supporters of the Friends of Hope Education Fund in Hong Kong in a charity walk on the Mainland to raise funds for education.

Following an opening ceremony attended by members of the provincial and municipal Overseas Chinese Affairs Offices and Returned Overseas Chinese Associations, Chairman of the Fund, Mr James Elms, a retired officer of the Force, said: "We started fund-raising in Guizhou in 1994 for education development programmes for students. This year, we plan to build a school in the water-deficient Zunyi so that more children in the mountainous areas can get education."

Established by a group of Force members who have charity at heart, the Fund has registered as a legal charitable organisation in Hong Kong. Up to now, tens of schools have been built on the Mainland with the Fund's donations and more than 10 of them are in Qiannan and Zunyi in Guizhou Province.

The "Hong Kong - Zunyi Charity Trek 2008 for Education Development Programme" started in Honghuagang, going through Zunyi County, Renhuai City, Xishui County and Chishui City with suitable sections of the course selected for participants to finish on foot. Presentation of a donation of $200,000 from the Fund was held in the Xijiu Town Guanzhai Primary School in Xishui County on January 15.

Taking part in the charity walk were Tai Po District Commander Charles Mitchell, Sergeant Yung Kai-chiu from Happy Valley Sub-division, Sergeant Tam Ping-chuen from Chai Wan Division and Police Constable Iu Kin-chung from Marine East Division. They were joining Mr Elms, another retired Force member, Mr Lui Kwai-hoi, and several non-police friends of the Fund in the charity walk, which covered a course from Zunyi to Chishui City in Guizhou along sections of the famous 1935 "Long March" route and through very rugged but scenic country.

The walk raised in excess of $200,000, which will be supplemented by the Guizhou Government to build a new school for the Xijiu Town Guanzhai Primary School in Xishui County.

• English version only