South China Morning Post
3rd October 2013
Training to unleash possibilities for the blind
By Ada Lee
The training of two Hongkongers who it is hoped will spearhead the development of guide dogs for the blind in the city is set to begin in Britain later this month.
The Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association hopes the specialist training of Garrick Poon Kwok-wai and Cherrie Wu Ching-yee - who were selected from 50 candidates - will help secure international recognition for the organisation, one of only two groups that provide canine help for the city's blind.
There are 11,400 totally blind people in Hong Kong, but just six guide dogs. Relations between the association and the breakaway Seeing Eye Dog Services are strained.
Poon, 27, and Wu, 25, will receive two years' training from Guide Dogs UK, followed by a further 18 months on their return to Hong Kong.
The association hopes they will become the "core professionals" who will run the association after they graduate.