From today's SCMP:
Mystery Surrounds Hiker's Disappearance
Martin Wong
Aug 07, 2010
The search for Stephen Morrissey - a New Zealand pilot who went missing on Wednesday while hiking in Pat Sin Leng - was continuing last night amid mystery as to how an experienced hiker could have gone astray on a relatively easy hiking trail.
Two days after his disappearance, more than 100 police, fire and civil aid officers were deployed to look for the 51-year-old with the assistance of a government helicopter and dogs. His family and friends also flew into the city yesterday from New Zealand to help with the search.
Their efforts had been unsuccessful as of last night and rescuers said the pursuit would continue overnight.
Morrissey came to the city with his friend, Mark, 54, and together they began traversing a 15-kilometre trail starting from Hok Tau Wai at 7am on Wednesday.
Ken Ng On-yeung, chairman of the Hong Kong Hiking Society, said the trail, which is part of the renowned Wilson Trail, was not a difficult one. He gave it a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5.
"If people follow the pavement trail designed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, there is no way they would get lost and there is no danger of falling down any slope," he said.
The pair, both pilots for Air New Zealand, walked together until the final part of the trail at which point Morrissey told Mark he wanted to get more water and so decided to walk ahead.
They were supposed to meet again at the final stop on the trail in Tai Mei Tuk at 3pm.
But Mark failed to see Morrissey after more than an hour of waiting and so returned to their hotel in the hope he might have gone back there alone. Mark called police after realising Morrissey had not made it back to the hotel. He told police they had been hiking in Hong Kong many times in the past.
Each rescuer was issued with a picture of Morrissey taken only a few hours before he vanished. At 1.8 metres tall, he is of thin build, has a pointed face with short, grey hair and a light complexion.
He was wearing a pair of metal-framed glasses, a grey T-shirt, green shorts, carrying a black rucksack and was holding a blue umbrella.
Ng reminded people that they should always go hiking with somebody and should ensure they have enough water.