Special Past Event 2019

Granting of the Royal Title

to 

The Royal Hong Kong Police Force

and

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

The Royal Hong Kong Police Old & Bold hosted a Cocktail Party to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the granting of the Royal Title to the Hong Kong Police and Auxiliary Police forces by HM The Queen shortly before 24th April, 1969. 

The Cocktail Party was held from 18:00 hrs on Thursday 25th April, 2019 at 

The Royal Hong Kong Regiment Association Mess, 

9th floor, Happy Valley Stand, HKJC Racecourse, Happy Valley. 

59 Old & Bold and retired RHKAP, RHKR, RM and RCS members and a retired Brigadier attended along with assorted family members.

The Dress Code was smart casual (jacket with optional tie) with optional miniature medals and decorations. 

The Buffet was by Shamrock Catering and Additional Drinks from the well-stocked mess bar at very reasonable cash prices were available all evening.

Programme 

17.30 – Doors Open and Registration 

18.30 – Address by President of the RHKP Old & Bold, Mr. Guy Shirra:

“Guest of Honour, President and members of the RHKRA, members of the RHKP Old & Bold, honoured guests. How many 1967 Veterans do we have here today?

I welcome you all to this singular event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Title to the regular and auxiliary Hong Kong Police forces on 24th April, 1969.

In the House of Commons on 17 April 1969, Lt. Cdr. Lynch Maydon DSO, DSC, RN, MP tabled a written question https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1969/apr/17/royal-hong-kong-police-and-auxiliary :

“To ask the Prime Minister if he will consider whether the Hong Kong Police Force should be accorded some mark of distinction in recognition of the loyal and outstanding services rendered by the Force over the years.”

To which the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, replied:

“I am most grateful to the honourable and gallant Member for raising this matter. I am glad to be able to inform the House that Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to accord the title "Royal" to the Hong Kong Police and Auxiliary Police Forces. In addition, Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra, has consented to accept, in an honorary capacity, the appointment of Commandant General of the two forces.”

The PM went on to say:

“I thank the honourable and gallant Gentleman. It was a happy coincidence that he should put this Question down at just about the time when the Government reached a decision to make their recommendation to Her Majesty The Queen, after the honourable and gallant Gentleman has pressed this matter for a considerable time. I am most grateful to him for raising it and for the initiative that he has taken.

I will not spoil the occasion by giving a list of the other Royal police forces—there are one or two in the Caribbean. I will join with him in welcoming what has been done and regarding it, as I know he does, as a tribute to the very great spirit, vigour and courage shown by the now Royal Hong Kong Police Force in the very severe difficulties that they have had to face in recent years.”

And after some criticism of colonialism by a Mr. Rankin, the PM ended by saying:

“I am sorry about my hon. Friend's lack of enthusiasm in this matter, and I would not accept his account of the position in Hong Kong or of the police. It certainly was not the impression which I formed on my two brief visits there. No doubt my hon. Friend formed his own view. Of course, it is a colonial territory. It is a colonial territory living under continuous pressure, not only from Communist China, but also from infiltration from some extremely strange gentlemen from Taiwan who are the cause of a great deal of unsettlement and insecurity there. It is in this situation of almost double threat and double provocation that I think the Hong Kong police force has discharged its duties with singular integrity.”

So there we have it; the Royal title not purely for 1967…

This announcement was confirmed in the Hong Government Gazette Extraordinary 50 years ago, a copy of which can be obtained here this evening if you make a donation.

So now I ask our Doyen and Guest of Honour here this evening, Teddy U, CPM, retired Chief Superintendent, to lead us in a toast to our former Commandant General, Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra:

“Princess Alexandra”

Next, for a few words on behalf of our fund-raising effort for Operation Breakthrough, I call on Mr. Robbie McRobbie @ Robbie McRugby.

I now call upon the Chairman of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment Association, Major Joseph Pau BBS, MBE, ED, to thank him for hosting us here today in this magnificent mess and to present him with a Letter of Appreciation.

Now please all join me in a toast to The Royal Hong Kong Regiment:

“The Volunteers”

And finally, I call upon Joseph to lead us in a Loyal Toast to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II:

“The Queen”

18.50 - Buffet 

23.00 - Rickshaws 

Attendees were invited at the door to make an Optional Donation of HK$500 to Operation Breakthrough, a Hong Kong charity for disadvantaged children started by members of the RHKP. 

 Operation Breakthrough 

               Your donation of $500 to Operation Breakthrough is highly appreciated. This entitles you to a Hat with the Royal Hong Kong Police Badge with the addition of Veteris Et Audax which means Old & Bold in Latin. The RHKP Old & Bold website is at www.rhkpob.co.uk 

The hat comes with its own storage box. A copy of the Government Gazette Notice of bestowing the ‘Royal’ prefix to the Hong Kong Police in 1969 is also included. Your donation will be used to finance the many sporting activities and programmes arranged for the youth-at-risk participants in Operation Breakthrough. You may access the Operation Breakthrough web page at www.breakthrough.hk 

                    Operation Breakthrough is a registered charity which is run by Police Officers on a voluntary basis. The aim of the charity is to help youth-at-risk (particularly those who are on a criminal path) by involving them in sports. Experienced police offices run each of the sports clubs/programs and imbue the youth-at-risk participants with a sense of self-discipline which in turn develops their self-respect. Operation Breakthrough has been delivering its programs for over 21 years and relies on the support of the Hong Kong Police Force. 

                    The number of participants now stands at around 450 children per week which includes over 100 girls and over 120 boys from ethnic minority groups. Good relationships are cultivated with numerous NGOs and social welfare groups to achieve the aims of Operation Breakthrough. These partnerships help create a professional synergy that enhances the effectiveness of the respective programs. The activities are organised on a weekly basis and include Boxing, Rugby, Dragon Boat, Basketball, Netball, Judo and sailing to name but a few. 

                    Over the years many participants have gone on to represent Hong Kong at various levels in competitions, especially in rugby. There is also one professional boxer. Operation Breakthrough has seen many successes with participants going on to good careers. Among the graduates of Operation Breakthrough are 24 who became police officers, 3 who became firemen with several becoming social workers and sporting coaches. There are currently over 60 police volunteers involved with Operation Breakthrough."  

Each donor in return received an RHKP Old & Bold bush hat in a handsome box containing a laminated copy of the London Gazette for 24th April 1969 (below), a letter from Operation Breakthrough and two RHKP Old & Bold iron-on patches:

The production cost of the hats was generously donated by Brian Ireland and that of the patches by John Greene. 

There are no administrative costs and if all 500 sets are eventually allocated, Operation Breakthrough will receive a total of HK$250,000.

O & B Event Organisation:

Organiser: Guy Shirra, President 

Registration: Chris Jones, Convenor 

Publicity: Paul Mounsey, Secretary 

Calligraphy: Russ Mason, Past President 

Recruiting: Gilberto Jorge, Vice President 

Bush Hats: Brian Ireland assisted by Nick Cuthbertson 

O&B Patches: John Greene 

Welfare: Mark Newman, Welfare Officer