Zhang Chunxian, the Chinese Minister of Communications at the time, personally thanked the Government Flying Service of the HKSAR by writing them an inscription which reads: "National Heroes, Miracle Rescuers."

Over the past ten years, the Government Flying Service of the HKSAR has sent out helicopters on 73 occasions and fixed-wing aircraft on 63 occasions to perform emergency rescues at sea in cooperation with the China maritime rescue service. It accounts for ten percent of all maritime rescue services provided in China.

This special Hong Kong tour group heading for Gucheng City in Hebei Province is to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of a local hospital, the funds for which they have donated.

"Our donors and volunteers are from all fields, including retired lawyers, civil servants, and teachers. Since retiring, we have been working together on charity projects," said Leung Pei Jing, retired professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

So far they have made trips like this one for similar purposes more than a dozen times, and each time, new members had been with them.

Every time they travel to the mainland, the members of the group become excited by things they see and people they meet with, and they respond by singing cheerfully.

The trip from Hong Kong to Gucheng City in Hebei is far from easy. Not only have they had to deal with the long distance involved, but the road conditions have forced them to change to smaller vehicles. According to Leung Pei Jing, the group's leader, all of the trips they have undertaken over the past ten years have involved rough traveling conditions, and they have, to some extent, become used to it. Finally, after a long and tiring journey, they finally arrive at their destination.

"We set off at 6:00 am this morning and arrived after 2:00 pm. That's about 8 hours of travel," said member of the Group.

"They're all volunteers. It's hard work, but we don't mind it. If we did, we wouldn't be good volunteers, " said Prof. Leung Peijing.