Handy hi-tech tools: Police night-vision goggles will be displayed at the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day.

The Civil Aid Service and 17 government departments and mountaineering organisations will hold the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day on November 14 and 15.

The event will showcase advanced mountaineering equipment, such as digital maps, global positioning systems, and cable-car and mountain rescue equipment. Visitors will get to try police night-vision goggles.

Mountaineering safety talks will be conducted. Hong Kong Observatory speakers will explain the implications of weather on hiking activities and advise on how to deal with inclement weather. The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will provide a simple one-minute jogging test to evaluate if a person is physically fit for hiking, together with a display of hiking equipment.

There will be a mountain search and rescue demonstration, and performances by Police dogs, bicycle trick riding, marching bands and a side-drum troop.

The service urges people not to hike alone, suggesting they join groups of four to six, which include people with hiking experience and first-aid knowledge.

Up to September, it had received 46 mountain rescue cases in which 17 involved people hiking on their own. There were 69 cases last year - with 20 involving people walking alone.

The free promotion day will be held from 10am to 5pm at the service's headquarters at 8 To Wah Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. Click here for details.