Cham and Chung ascend Worldwide House in Central to raise funds for their expedition to Mount Everest. Picture: SCMP
Source:
https://scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/2145728/how-labourer-became-first-hong-kong-man-conquer Short Reads
How labourer became first Hong Kong man to conquer Mount Everest in 1992, without climbing partner
Of two Hong Kong mountaineers who set out to climb Mount Everest, only one – Cham Yick-kai – made it to the top, just in time to celebrate his 33rd birthday
Mountaineers Cham Yick-kai (left) and Chung Kin-man after their return from Nepal on May 20, 1992. Picture: SCMP
“HK climbers head off to hit the heights of Everest,” ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on March 21, 1992.
“Two Hongkong men will set off today to try to become the first people from the territory to conquer Mount Everest and plant Hongkong’s flag at the top of the world,” the story continued.
When local soft drinks company Vitasoy stepped in to save the day with the promise of HK$300,000, the pair were on their way.
On April 24, the Post reported: “The Hongkong members of an international expedition to climb Mount Everest [say] they are suffering from unseasonably low temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius, altitude sickness and fatigue, while the expedition has been beset by accidents and low morale.”
Then, on May 8, came the news that Chung had pulled out of the climb due to exhaustion, altitude sickness and injury. “But Cham said the expedition would make a final all-out effort beginning yesterday despite being weak after spending nearly five weeks above 5,400 metres,” the story went on. “He said their spirits had been severely knocked by news that two members of an Indian expedition had frozen to death on a ridge high above them […]”
“He said Chung had withdrawn from the summit team after being injured when he almost fell into a crevasse on Monday after the first summit bid had been abandoned and the team was descending from Camp Two. Chung was saved by being roped to another climber.”
Cham plants Hong Kong’s flag at the peak of Mount Everest on 12 May, 1992.
The final attempt proved successful, with the Post reporting on May 13 that “A 33-year-old labourer has become the first Hongkong man to climb Mount Everest, planting the territory’s flag on the 8,840-metre peak at 10.30 yesterday.
“Cham Yick-kai fought the extreme cold, altitude sickness and exhaustion for six weeks to reach the top in time to celebrate his birthday with the other seven members of a New Zealand-led expedition.”