3 hikers fall ill on Hong Kong trails as temperatures top 33 degrees

At least three hikers fell ill on countryside trails as temperatures in parts of Hong Kong climbed to a sweltering 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) on Sunday.A 25-year-old visitor was suspected of suffering from Heatstroke while he hiked with friends on the popular High Island Reservoir East Dam-Po Pin Chau hiking route in Sai Kung at about noon.A government helicopter airlifted him to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment.The route is one of Hong Kong’s best-known hiking trails, attracting large numbers of visitors seeking views of the Unesco-listed volcanic rock formations and the dramatic sea stacks of Po Pin Chau.The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said that during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival and weekend period, an average of 2,360 people per day booked visits to the Po Pin Chau route, while actual attendance averaged about 1,170 visitors daily, or around half of the reservations.The department said operations were generally smooth despite peak crowds between 10am and 2pm, with no serious congestion reported on the trail or the Po Pin Chau viewing platform.