The ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) ASSOCIATION.

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1 The ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) ASSOCIATION July 2012 Message from the Chairman Ron Taylor MBE TD ED This newsletter covers the 2012 Foundation Day Dinner, the 30th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict and the 50th anniversary of the City Hall s Garden of Remembrance. If in future years we reflect on 2012 what will we remember about this year? Will it be that this year is the 15th anniversary of the establishment of our special administrative region and the start of the term of tenure of our third Chief Executive? Will it be the Olympics shortly to be held in London? Although our Regiment was disbanded 17 years ago, the year will be remembered by some as the when the axe fell on a number of well known and respected British Regiments. The reduction of the British Army continues with a recent announcement of the loss of more British Regiments, but at the same time the strength of the Territorials, the volunteer forces, is to be increased - they will then constitute 25% of the army s strength, but still a lower percentage than in the USA, Canada and Australia. Many of our members regret that they did not have the opportunity of continuing to serve beyond 1995, but those who took the opportunity to serve in the HongKong Adventure Corps have been able to take pride in being a member of an expanding successful force benefitting Hong Kong s youth. Without the Corps assistance a number of our association s activities could not take place. This year will be remembered as that when Joseph Pau was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star for his contribution to Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Adventure Corps and all members of the Association send him their congratulations. We, in Hong Kong, acknowledge that many Volunteers are now living overseas and have formed vibrant branches of the Association in Ontario, Vancouver, Sydney and of course the UK. This year sees the handover of the Chairmanship of the UK Branch to Jeremy Hutchins, who commanded the Regiment from 1986 to 1988; we hope to see him in Hong Kong during his tenure. 1

2 Spring Walk Wong Siu Wing The Family Walk 2012 took place on 19 February 2012 (Sunday), just a few weeks after the Chinese New Year festive season. It was a beautiful and sunny day. The walk started from the Peak Tower down to Aberdeen City Centre where the walkers had a very good Dim Sum and cold beer lunch in a restaurant. We had 41 walkers including members, spouses and friends. It was believed that all enjoyed the walk and lunch as well. Looking forward to having another family walk and to seeing you all soon. Special Happy Hours Gathering to commemorate the 30 th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict On April and June, we had two Happy Hours Gatherings showing the documentaries of the Falkland Conflict in 1982 and each time more than 30 members participated. The first show was mainly the stories of the whole conflict and the second one was mainly on the Battle of Goose Green and Port Stanley. 2

3 Foundation Day Dinner This year the Foundation Day Dinner was also held on the last Friday 25 th of May. Our chief guest was the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose Lee GBS, IDSM, JP, and we also invited the Acting CSO of CAS, Mr Cheung Tat Yin, Commodore Cowen Chiu of the Hong Kong Sea School and Patron of the Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen s Association, Mr Willie Mok OBE, KCSJ and Mr Sin Ting Kwong also from the Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen Association. Mr Lee addressed the dinner and recalled that the parade ground of our RHQ was always used by the Immigration Department for foot-drill training and the passing out parades in the 70 s & 80 s. The music was played by the CAS Band again and the highlight was the different regimental marches played at the end of the dinner. HONG KONG S TRIBUTE TO HER GLORIOUS DEAD Albert Lam MBE In the late Fifties, although the war had been over for more than 10 years, many people, especially those POWs, whose fathers, husbands, brothers, sons or daughters had been killed in the defence of Hong Kong, found it hard to forget. There were voices to erect a memorial to remember those who laid down their lives for Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Defence Force, being the descendant of Hong Kong s own fighting forces The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, decided to form a committee to look at the possibility of erecting a Volunteer War Memorial and so the Hong Kong Volunteer Memorial Fund (HKVMF) was established. 3

4 In the early Sixties the Hong Kong Government announced that a new City Hall, together with a new public pier, would be built on the reclaimed land by Star Ferry. The Committee acted quickly, they decided to take their dream to the highest authority, the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham. His Excellency agreed to see the Committee in Government House where they met a Mr. A M J Wright, Chief Architect of the Public Works Department, who had been Lieutenant in the Volunteers and then a POW. The Committee had been privileged to a preview and introduction of the City Hall plan by Mr. Wright. According to the Chief Architect, the City Hall would consist a high block and a low block with a small garden in between, and much to the joy of the Committee they learnt that nothing had been planned for the garden. The Chairman of the Committee, Dr. the Hon AM Rodrigues, brought the Volunteers idea to His Excellency which was accepted. However, being a practical Governor he pointed out that as LEGCO had only approved funds for the two buildings, RHKDF would have to raise their own funds for anything they wanted to build in the garden. The Governor gave his blessing for HKVMF to start fund raising and our clever Chairman invited the Governor to be the Patron of the Fund, who kindly agreed. With the blessing of the Governor, the Volunteers immediately enhanced the HKVMF and many famous names of Hong Kong were recruited on to the Committee, they were: Patron His Excellency Sir Alexander Grantham, GCMG Chairman : Committee : Committee Dr. the Hon. A. M. Rodrigues, OBE, ED Major A. N. Braude, MBE, ED Col. H. A. De Barros Botelho, MBE, ED Dr. the Hon. Sir Sik Nin Chau, CBE. Dr. D. J. S. Crozier, CMG. William Eu, Esq A El Arceulli, Esq, OBE Lt. Col, K. C. P. Ive Lt. Col. M. J. N. Jennings Lt. Col. C. R. Murray Brown, DSO Lt. Col. H. Owen Hughes, OBE, ED D. L. Prophet, Esq C. A. J. V. Ribeiro, Esq, MBE Dr. Sir Lindsay T. Ride, CBE, ED The Hon. Dhun Ruttonjee, OBE Lt. R. R. T. Smith, VRD, RNR D. L. Strellett, MBE, ED R. K. Valentine, Esq G. M. MacWhinnie, Esq A. M. J. Wright, Esq H. J. Tebbutt, Esq 4

5 Apart from radio broadcasts in various languages, appeals were sent out to business firms in the Colony, to residents and also to former residents and volunteers who had long left Hong Kong. Donations started to flow in, not only from Hong Kong but from many parts of the world. While the Committee was gratified by the results, donations brought with them a new problem; a large amount of the money was from people who were not in the armed forces but engaged in the various forms of Civil Defence. While, primarily, the main purpose had been to erect a Volunteer Memorial, it soon became apparent that if the Memorial was to fulfil its rightful function, it would have to encompass the efforts of all those had played their part in the defence of Hong Kong. After many meetings with the Chief Architect, the Volunteer project began to take shape. There would be two sets of Volunteer Memorial Gates, dedicated to the Volunteers, leading into a Garden of Remembrance dedicated to all those who had laid down their lives in the service of Hong Kong, irrespective of whether they carried arms or not. In the centre of this sacred garden, there would be a Shrine, a plain humble edifice with three windows and a northern door pointing in the four directions of the compass, north-southeast-west, and its walls pointing to all parts of the world from whence had come not only Hong Kong loyal sons and daughters, but all those without any ties to the Colony, who had fought side by side with them. Inside the Shrine, there would be a place on its walls for commemorative plaques to record for all to see, the various units and formations which had taken part in the defence for Hong Kong. And finally, there would be a Roll of Honour recording all the names of our dead. The whole City Hall project, incorporating HKVMF s idea, was completed in March It was opened by Sir Robert Black, the new Governor of Hong Kong. The Volunteers waited until 30 August 1962 when they killed three birds with one stone : a. Organised the first Liberation Day Ceremony in the Remembrance Garden b. Officially opened the Shrine c. Laid the Roll of Honour within What we see today was the result of much planning, the close co-operation of the Government and the generosity of the people of Hong Kong. Here, then is Hong Kong s tribute to her glorious dead! 5

6 Bronze Bauhinia Star Medal for Joseph Pau MBE, ED Congratulations to Joseph Pau Chi-leung, our 1 st vice chairman, on being awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star Medal on the 15 th anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR. From the Government s press release Mr Pau is awarded the BBS for his long and dedicated community service, particularly his valuable contribution to youth development. New PRI Support The Volunteers wrist band $10 each Old Regimental crest $90 Coming events Victory Day Ceremony - Sunday 12 August - City Hall Garden of Remembrance 1015 hrs Assemble at City Hall Low Block 1230 hrs Refreshments in the Club House Dark lounge suit or Regimental blazer with Regimental / Association tie, medals and beret with cap badge AGM and Annual Dinner - Friday 7 September - Craigengower Cricket Club 1900 hrs Annual General Meeting followed by the Annual Dinner Chung Yeung Ceremony - Tuesday 23 October - City Hall Garden of Remembrance Remembrance Day Ceremony - Sunday 11 November - Cenotaph 1015 hrs Assemble Dark lounge suit or Regimental blazer with Regimental / Association tie, medals and beret with cap badge Trailwalker Friday 16 to Sunday 18 November Editor Bernard Yuen 6