穩步成長

THE STEADY GROWTH

第一代的童子軍總部

1st generation of Association Headquarters

1927年在新界地區的童軍

New Territories Scout in 1927

在華德利牧師領導下，童子軍運動發展迅速，1920年獲得首個永久總部。這間原屬政府物業的平房，位於下亞厘畢道，即現今中區政府合署西翼附近。當時除作為辦公和存放物資用途外，亦作為活動及中央羅浮童子軍團 (Central Rover Crew)的集會場地，結束了借用灣仔海員會所 (Seamen’s Institute) 的日子。此外，總部亦開設了物品供應社(Scout Shop)。當時童子軍團的數目增加不少，並且漸漸拓展至新界。1927年，北約理民官 (District Officer for Northern New Territories) Justice Fraser, MC 在大浦滘開辦首個童子軍團，當地之崇德學校(Shun Tak School) 為主辦機構。新界地政官員 (Land Bailiff for New Territories) W. G. Routley 亦於相約時期，在元朗成立另一個童子軍團，分別為香港童子軍第21及22團。1920年末，全港有近30個團。在1929年的童子軍周年大會中，香港總監提議成立香港和九龍兩區以便管理。

Under the leadership of Rev. Waldegrave, the Scout Movement in Hong Kong developed rapidly. In mid-1920, the first permanent headquarters was obtained. The headquarters was originally the government's property and located at Lower Albert Road (now the West Wing of the Central Government Offices). This permanent headquarters, apart from being used as offices and storage of equipment, also provided a venue for activities and meeting of the Central Rover Crew, which no longer needed to borrow venues from the Seamen's Institute. Inside the new headquarters premises, a Scout Shop was also set up in order to supply Scouting items. The number of Scout Troops increased greatly. Scouting started to expand into the New Territories when Justice Fraser, MC, District Officer for Northern New Territories, established the 21st Hong Kong Troop at Shun Tak School, Tai Po Kau in 1927. Before long W. G. Routley, Land Bailiff for New Territories, established the 22nd Hong Kong Troop in Yuen Long. By the end of 1920s, there were about 30 Scout Troops in Hong Kong. During the Annual General Meeting of the Boy Scouts Association Hong Kong Branch in 1929, the Colony Commissioner proposed to establish two districts on either side of the harbour.

1929年除了是世界童子軍運動成立21周年紀念外，最令人興奮的是有香港代表團出席世界童子軍大露營。雖然只是由曾駐守香港的英國海軍人員組成的羅浮童子軍代表，但畢竟香港的旗幟可以在英國Arrowe Park (第3屆世界童子軍大露營)營地上飄揚。華德利牧師的准許，也許是為了答謝他們對拓展香港童子軍運動的幫助，尤以對欠缺領袖的童子軍團出力不少。同年總會首個營地開放使用，位於柴灣的童子軍營地背山面海、環境清幽，據說原是某日藉商人用作興建別墅之用。由於地點非常適合童子軍訓練，亦接近童子軍慣常露營的石澳及赤柱等地，故總會花費港幣16,000元購買。雖然這為總會的財政帶來壓力，卻為童子軍帶來一個好去處。每逢假日，來自不同團的童軍會整理獲分配的營地，來自駐港英軍的羅浮童子軍亦會在柴灣營地工作，建設公用設施。深海童子軍 (Deep Sea Scout)支部的成立，對維繫在商船和海軍服役的童子軍有很深遠的影響，特別是深海羅浮 (Deep Sea Rover)的服務，無論在協助缺少領袖的團、營地服務、各項活動(特別是周年會操 Banner Rally)，以至公共服務，如在海灘擔任救生員等工作，都有很大的貢獻。

1929 is the year celebrating the 21st anniversary of the World Scout Movement. By special permission of Rev. Waldegrave, Rover Scouts who were servicemen in the Royal Navy represented Hong Kong in the 3rd World Scout Jamboree held at Arrowe Park in England. For the first time the Hong Kong flag appeared in a World Scout Jamboree. In the same year, Chai Wan Campsite, the first official Scout camp in Hong Kong, was purchased with HKD16,000 and opened for use. The site was deemed very suitable for training because of its tranquil environment and its proximity to other commonly used campsites in Shek O and Stanley. Every weekend, members of different Scout Troops would help tidy their allotted camping sites, whereas Rover Scouts serving in the British army assisted in the work and construction of public facilities in the campsite. The establishment of Deep Sea Scout Section had a long-term benefit of retaining Scout members serving on merchant ships and in the Navy. The Deep Sea Rovers, in particular, contributed a great deal in helping out the Scout Troops lacking leaders, campsite, and various events like the Banner Rally.

1927年和平紀念日

Hong Kong Scouts in Armistice Day 1927

1930年的柴灣營地

Chai Wan Campsite in 1930

頒授1930年威爾斯太子錦標予優勝隊伍

Presentation of Prince of Wales Banner winner in 1930

1932年之中外童軍

Different races of Scouts in 1932

踏入30年代，香港區和九龍區分別成立，旅號須重新編排及加上所屬的區名稱。因此原本是第2旅的聖安德烈教堂童子軍團改稱為九龍第1旅，部分旅團選擇維持原有編號，如瑪利兵房學校仍舊是香港第4旅。羅浮童子軍第5旅 (Roving Fifth) 雖改屬九龍區，卻依然是第5旅；部分則選用新旅號如華仁書院由18旅轉為香港第15旅。童子軍運動亦於此時擴展到離島，長洲官立學校於1933年成立童子軍團，旅號獲編為香港第18旅。1934年，擔任香港總監達13年之久的華德利牧師離港返回英國，並獲英皇佐治五世頒發大英帝國員佐級勳章 (MBE)，表揚其多年來為海員傳道會 (Seamen’s Mission)和香港童子軍運動的服務和貢獻。華德利牧師早於1928年，在聖佐治日獲總領袖頒發童子軍最高榮譽的銀狼獎章(Silver Wolf Award)。擔任香港副總監的候利華牧師隨即接任香港總監，雖然因工作關係經常要往返廣州及香港，但童軍運動的發展步伐並沒有因此慢下來。 1935年，為慶祝英皇佐治五世登基銀禧紀念，香港童子軍總會舉辦名為 “Jamborally” 的大集會，參加的除了香港女童子軍外，還有從廣州前來的男女童軍代表和澳門童子軍代表。這是首次香港童軍總會舉辦大型「國際」活動，內容包括巡遊及童軍技能表演等。翌年，候利華牧師為本地童子軍領袖開辦木章第二段(相等於現今高級班)訓練班，由在海軍船塢工作的賈羅德 (Allan Grad) 主持，不少年青的華人童子軍領袖因而可以參加正式的木章訓練班。獲得木章的首批本地領袖包括：柯昭璋、陳福康、盧孟煊、馬群傑及沈茹甘等。候利華牧師在1938年委任華人出任區總監，原香港第1旅旅長柯昭璋任香港區區總監、九龍第11旅童子軍團長陳福康任九龍區區總監並兼管新界。童子軍旅團的數目因大量僑校逃避戰亂南遷至本港，令童子軍人數由1934年的682人發展至1940年近1,200人。

Entering 1930s the Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch expanded with the set up of Hong Kong and Kowloon Districts. Thus, some Scout Groups were renumbered with the district added. For instance, the Scout Troop of St. Andrew's Church was renumbered from 2nd Hong Kong to 1st Kowloon. However, some Troops’ numbers remained unchanged. For instance, Roving Fifth kept the same number though it was under Kowloon District. Some troops were assigned new numbers, for instance, 18th Hong Kong (Wah Yan College) was changed to 15th Hong Kong. The Scout Movement in Hong Kong further expanded into the outlying islands. In 1933, a Scout Troop was founded in Cheung Chau Government School and numbered 18th Hong Kong.

In 1934, Rev. Waldegrave, having served as the Colony Commissioner for 13 years, returned to the Britain and was conferred M.B.E. by King George V to compliment his devotion and contribution to the Seamen’s Mission and the Scout Movement in Hong Kong. Before that, he was already presented the Silver Wolf Award, the highest award of Scouting, on the St. George's Day of 1928 by the Chief Scout. The Colony Commissioner position was then taken up by Deputy Colony Commissioner Rev. N. V. Halward. Although Rev. Halward often had to travel between Canton and Hong Kong for his work, the development of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong did not slow down. In 1935, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V, The Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch, organized its first international event, the “Jamborally”. Participants included Hong Kong Girl Guides, as well as Scouts and Guides representatives from Canton and Macau. During the Jamborally, there were parade and Scoutcraft performances, etc. In the following year, a Wood Badge Part II course (equivalent to today’s Advanced Course) was organized for local Scouters by Allan Grad, the newly appointed Assistant Chief Commissioner for Training and Deputy Camp Chief. The first batch of local Scouters being awarded the Wood Badge included Quah Cheow-cheang, Chan Fook-hong, Loo Mang-hoon, Richard J.B. Ma, Stephen Shum, etc. In 1938, Rev. Halward for the first time appointed Chinese District Commissioners. Quah Cheow-cheang, Group Scoutmaster of the 1st Hong Kong Group, was appointed as District Commissioner for Hong Kong while Chan Fook-hong, Scoutmaster of the 11th Kowloon Group, was appointed as District Commissioner for Kowloon. (Chan was also responsible for the New Territories.) Following the outbreak of the Pacific War, the overseas Chinese schools flooded in, which in turn drove the number of Scout Groups in Hong Kong. By 1940, the number of Scouts has already risen to nearly 1,200 from 682 in 1934.

在1936年發行的第一代香港章

First issue of Colony Emblem in 1936

童子軍總會香港分會為了拓展新界地區童子軍運動，成立了新界童子軍區，並於1941年5月委任何華興為新界童子軍區長。原九龍區區總監陳福康則調任新界區區總監；九龍第15旅(旺角) 李大衞則署任九龍區區總監。1936年在西貢大埔仔廣培學校成立九龍童子軍第19團的廖爵榮前輩，在訪問中表示在太平洋戰爭爆發前，曾出任新界童子軍區長。

To further develop Scouting activities in the New Territories, the Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch decided to establish the New Territories District. In May 1941, Ho Wah-hing was appointed as District Scoutmaster for New Territories. Chan Fook-hong, District Commissioner for Kowloon, was transferred to head the New Territories District while David Lee from 15th Kowloon (Mong Kok) Group was appointed as Acting District Commissioner for Kowloon. Liu Cheuk-wing, who in 1936 established the 19th Kowloon Troop at Kwong Pui School in Sai Kung, also mentioned in an interview that he had served as District Scoutmaster for New Territories before the Pacific War.

香港總監檢閱本地華裔童軍

Chief Commissioner inspecting local Chinese Scouts