The Scout Association of Hong Kong

The Scout Association of Hong Kong

  • Submitted By: waaed
  • Date Submitted: 12/13/2010 8:32 AM
  • Category: Social Issues
  • Words: 2952
  • Page: 12
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Founding of Hong Kong Scouting movement
Scout activities were first brought to Hong Kong in 1909, only two years after the beginning of the Scout movement in the United Kingdom.[2] By 1911, British merchants and military personnel had started to organise Scout Groups in the city. At 6:00 a.m. on 16 April 1912 Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell arrived in Hong Kong by HMS Lutzou. He was a guest in the Government House and discussed with officials of the Hong Kong Government the establishment of a branch of The Boy Scout Association of the United Kingdom and the planning of a Boy Scout Movement in the city.[3][4][5]
Enthusiasts and organisations, including Queen's College and St. Joseph's College established on 11 September 1913 the 1st Hong Kong Scout Troop of St. Joseph's College, for which Baden-Powell sent a letter of congratulation on 26 November 1913, which was published in the first issue of the Scout Gazette, the first Scout publication in Hong Kong. The group was registered with The Boy Scout Association on 1 May 1914. At the time, the Chief Scout was Major F.J. Bowen and the Scoutmaster was Mr Albert Edwards. Besides training in map reading and communication, the troop also provided training in ambulance by Dr Coleman. On 29 December 1914, the group was extended with a short-life Sea Scout Troop by Capt. P. Streafield, connected to HMS Triumph of the Royal Navy. The Troop also held the first Scout camp in Murray Barracks.[6] At the same time, Bowen was invited to Peak School to educate pupils in Scouting and the school later established a Wolf Cub Pack.[6] The 2nd Hong Kong Scout Troop of St. Andrew's Church was registered on 25 November 1914.[7] Major Alexander Anderson McHardy was appointed Colony Commissioner on 1 May 1914 and then-Governor of Hong Kong Francis Henry May became Chief Scout of Hong Kong. At the beginning all member Scouts were of European descent and not well-recognised by Chinese society.[8] Membership was restricted to those of British...

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