ISA HK/China --- Inauguration of ' Tree Climbing HK '

Dear Station Members & Respected Guests,

Inauguration of TREE CLIMBING HK (TCHK)

Today is another milestone in the development of ISA HK/China Station.

After hard work & careful planning by many, it is the utmost pleasure of ISA HK/China Station to announce that the Tree Climbing HK (TCHK) will be set up as an extension of our Station from today onwards !!

TCHK devotes mainly to Tree Climbing & anything relating to manoeuvring in a tree, be it Recreational & Professional. TCHK will focus on the action part of arboriculture. Yes, it will be on rope & on tree. TCHK will encourage participants to touch trees to love trees, & to enjoy the benefits of trees by physical contact. It will be an experience for those who sit in office all day to come out on a tree to dangle on rope. The climbing will be rehabilitating & refreshing. TCHK is promised to be fun-filled, action packed & very educational.

A major feature of TCHK is that it will communicate in Chinese to fit our public requirement, although English is used in time when necessary. TCHK will follow the Station Mail system of having its own channel to broadcast weekly messages, & it will reply enquiries in Chinese. This is intended to bring TCHK to our public at large & everybody is encouraged to join, be they office personnel to tree care professionals. Just everyone is welcomed.

There is no cost to join TCHK at present & TCHK Membership will be kept alone by the Chieftain who is the Station Manager by appointment. TCHK Membership will not be disclosed publicly just like Station Membership. Our Station Code of Honour of Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling will equally apply in TCHK. Please refer to the attachments for more information of TCHK which are in Chinese. Please also note TCHK has started up with a firmer structure than our Station which is more knowledge based. Tree Climbing can be dangerous & rules/regulations must be set up for beginners to follow. They are all for good intention because without them, accident may occur.

TCHK welcomes anybody to join !! TCHK has no distinction in colour or creed, education or wealth. Anyone interested in Tree Climbing & touching trees are welcomed to come in. Tree Lovers are particularly welcomed because this is their chance to talk to their favourite trees.

Please take a moment to study through the attached information of TCHK. Do enquire at 9090 6719 or by e-mail if anyone has any queries & TCHK is always there to help. Employers are kindly requested to pass this information to their Chinese staff for their individual consideration. All Station Members are requested to pass this message to their friends & colleagues for their interest to participate. This message will also be placed on Station Blog.

TCHK looks forward to your participation to climb, protect & preserve our precious trees in our territory, one tree at a time.

Climb safely. Touch trees to love trees.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Station Manager & TCHK Chieftain

致：全世界喜愛攀樹的同志們

熱烈慶祝ISA HK/CHINA STATION 「攀爬一族」的成立

同志們，ISA HK/China Station 籌備已久的「攀爬一族」，現在正式宣告成立！

「攀爬一族」是本會參與社會事務的一部份，是個比本會腦部戰爭更加精彩的一個部份，是喜愛攀樹活動人員不可缺少的一個部份。

攀樹活動是一項有益身心的寧神健體活動，自從其在國外數十年前開展以來，現在全球已有數十萬人參與過各式各樣的康樂攀爬。在參與過程中，當中不乏專業或職業攀爬隊伍，其目的只有一個，就是要愛護樹木及親近樹木。

當今都市人用腦太多，四肢缺少運動，在室內參加運動時又重回「家徒四壁」的感覺，精神緊張未得完全解放，試想起童年時候的攀樹採果，本是返璞歸真的開朗行為，須然當今都市生活已埋葬了此一切。

「攀爬一族」是希望令有興趣人士能夠重拾童真，亦希望透過攀樹活動，令市民更加親近及愛護樹木，是一種以行動來表示保育樹木的行為。

在我們熟悉的城市香港，其實有着不少的爬樹能手，政府部門當中，康文署及漁護署早已有自己的樹木工作隊伍，每天在樹木上工作，至於中華電力公司及嘉道理農場，亦各自有一組爬樹高手，護理其機構內的樹木。

當今現代的爬樹方法，是利用合符國際認可規格的腰帶及攀爬繩扣等工具進行，既有效率、靈活而且又安全。

香港的攀樹隊伍，早在多年前引入西方先進國家的技術及工具，所以現時香港的爬樹技術已有相當高的水平，可惜郤只局限在政府部門及少數私人機構內使用，未能普及推廣。
「攀爬一族」有見及此，自告奮勇成立由志願人士組成的專業及康樂攀爬隊伍，亦憑本會在國際及地區網絡的關係，希望能夠打造出一批符合國際水平的攀樹人員。

「攀爬一族」的主要訓練目標有兩個，一是職業攀爬，二是康樂攀爬。

職業攀爬的主要對象是現職樹木保養行業的人仕及有志投入該行業的人仕，攀爬一族將會定期舉辦訓練課程，並希望每年設定考試，令到本港甚至國內的樹木工作從業員，能夠考獲專業資格，從而提升樹木行業達至國際水平。

康樂攀爬的對象是社會上不同性別，不同年齡及不同階層的人仕，讓他們都有機會學習攀爬，接觸樹木，從而能共享健康及豐盛人生。

「攀爬一族」是一個不設界限，不分種族膚色，不論宗教信仰，不重身體狀況和社會地位的團體，歡迎任何人士參加。參加者只須填回附上的表格電郵至本族指定電郵即可，目前費用全免，直至另行通知為止。

此致

攀爬一族 全体成員敬啟
2007年11月8日
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