Hong Kong has world-famous hiking trails and sceneries, that not only attract Hong Kong people and tourists around the world, but also domestic workers and expats living in the city. In 2020, there are currently close to 400,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong. On Sundays, they gather in small groups in almost every district. A few weeks ago, reporters from local media discovered some foreign domestic helpers produced waste and pollution at the Little Hawaii Waterfall in Tseung Kwan O while enjoying their day off. The coverage inflicted many comments in the community; some scathing and critical. Can it be true that domestic helpers only destroy and not contribute? Recently, two domestic helpers, Jhic Dacio and Liza Avelino, who are passionate about hiking in Hong Kong submitted their stories for TrailWatch’s ongoing social media campaign “Footprints on the Hill”. We interviewed them to get a closer look at their day offs on the hill.
Our Hiking Stories begin
Jhic and Liza are both from the Philippines and have been working in Hong Kong for more than ten years. Having started hiking in 2013, Jhic said, “I really enjoy the spectacular views on the hills. I am also passionate about hiking because we are able to raise funds for the less fortunate ones through the charity hikes we organized by Share Hong Kong, an organization my friends and I founded in 2012.”
“I started hiking in 2006," Liza recalled. It all started with a book about the trails of WWII Battlefields in Hong Kong she found in the public library. “I was interested in this part of world history. When I went to check out Wong Nai Chung Gap Trail on my next day off, I instantly fell in love with the beautiful view from the top of the hills, the gentle breeze brushing my cheeks, the solitude…and that’s where I became an avid hiker.”
We Hike, We Help, and We Loved it!
As a domestic helper, Jhic and Liza love Hong Kong as their second home; and hiking in Hong Kong has created many fond memories for them. “Sai Kung Rock Pool is my favorite trail,” Jhic said, “I also love a trekking experience in Aberdeen. I was so proud of myself in that experience because I conquered my fear to finish it, and it was also an amazing adventure with my team.”
Liza’s favorite trail is the MacLehose Trail. “I did the 100KM Oxfam Trailwalker twice. The experiences from this particular trail have changed my way of life. It made me love the outdoors more, more responsible and became a better person. I also felt very fortunate that my employer was very supportive to me throughout the years.”
Being a hiker in Hong Kong for some time now, Liza and Jhic both notice there is much trash along the trails. "Indeed, there are hikers who are irresponsible with their waste. They really should understand that if there’s not bins along the trail, they should bring the trash all the way back to the city and throw them away properly,” Jhic said.
A few years ago, Liza met an organization that was looking for volunteers who wanted to hike and clean up the trails at the same time. She really liked the idea, so she started inviting friends to join. “We love the safe hiking trails of Hong Kong. Once, we had 60 people join hiking together and we divided into groups to clean the 100km MacLehose Trail in one day.” Since then, it has become a habit for Liza and her friends to pick up plastic bottles, wrappers and other trash they can carry as they hike. She even organises a trail clean up activity every 3 months. “We hope by showing an example, people will become responsible hikers and practice the Leave No Trace principle.” Jhic agrees with Liza, “I wish that all the hikers in Hong Kong could be responsible to Mother Nature to maintain cleanliness and preserve the beauty of God’s creation, so that we can continue to enjoy and embrace good ambience.”
One media story said some domestic helpers are creating destruction in nature in Hong Kong, but Jhic and Liza’s stories are showing us that there are domestic helpers who are even more passionate than some hikers in protecting the beautiful nature in Hong Kong. It turns out they are not only helpers in Hong Kong households, but also the nature and the community in Hong Kong.
*Click here to see Liza’s Footprints on the Hill on facebook
*Click here to see Jhic’s Footprints on the Hill on facebook