Everest hero Hillary to become honorary Nepali

8.00pm

KATHMANDU - Nepal said today it would award honorary citizenship to New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first two men to climb Mount Everest, on the 50th anniversary of the ascent of the world's highest mountain.

"A certificate of honorary citizenship will be handed over to Hillary next week," Home Secretary Tika Dutta Niraula told Reuters, adding this was the first such award to a foreigner.

Hillary, and Nepali sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, climbed the 8850 metre Everest summit on May 29, 1953, becoming the first to achieve the feat.

Tenzing, who lived in Darjeeling in neighbouring India, died in 1986.

The 83-year-old Hillary will join hundreds of mountain climbers in Kathmandu next week to celebrate the golden jubilee of the first ascent.

The Everest ascent marked the start of tourism in Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains.

Hillary's ties with Nepal did not end with the conquering of Everest. He set up a trust to raise money for the Sherpa and other Nepalese people living in the shadow of Everest.

He has made many trips back and has personally helped build 27 schools, two hospitals, 12 medical centres, bridges, pipelines and an airfield.

- REUTERS