Scout Association of Hong Kong
| Scout Association of Hong Kong | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Emblem of Scout Association of Hong Kong.png Emblem or logo | |||
| Country | Hong Kong | ||
| Founded | 1914 | ||
| Founder | F.J. Bowen | ||
| Membership | 78,523 (2005) | ||
| Chief Scout | Pau Shiu Hung, Chief Commissioner | ||
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The Scout Association of Hong Kong (香港童軍總會) is the Scouting organisation in Hong Kong. After the first Scouting initiatives as early as 1909, the Hong Kong branch of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom was established in 1914 by registering the St. Joseph's College Scout Group. The Hong Kong branch became an autonomous association and the 111th member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1977.
The Scout association runs two major campsites, Gilwell Campsite (基維爾營地), and Tai Tam Scout Centre (大潭童軍中心), as well as several smaller ones. The headquarters are at the Hong Kong Scout Centre (香港童軍中心) in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. The Association is administratively headed by the Hong Kong Chief Commissioner (香港總監), and covers five regions with 35 districts. Per 2005, it had 78,523 uniformed members, with approximately 2700 Scout groups, and thus is the largest uniformed youth organisation in Hong Kong.
History
Founding of Hong Kong Scouting movement
Scout activities were first brought to Hong Kong in 1909, only two year after the very beginning of the Scout Movement in the United Kingdom.[1] In 1911, British merchants and military personnel started to organise Scout groups. At 1912-04-16, 6:00 AM, general Baden-Powell arrived in Hong Kong by the G.M.S. Lutzou. He was a guest in the Government House and discussed with officials of the Hong Kong Government about the establishment of a branch and the planning of a Boy Scout Movement in the city.[2]
Between 1912 and 1913, many enthusiasts and organisations, including Queen's College and St. Joseph's College, sent requests to the Boy Scout Association on organising a Scout Group in Hong Kong. On 1913-09-11, the 1st Hong Kong Scout Group of St. Joseph's College was established. It was registered at The Scout Association of the United Kingdom on 1914-05-01. Baden-Powell sent a letter congratulating the establishment. At the time, the Chief Scout was Major F.J. Bowen and the Scoutmaster is Mr Albert Edwards. At the same year, the 2nd Hong Kong Scout Group of St. Andrew's Church was registered on 1914-11-25. Major Alexander Anderson McHardy was appointed Colony Commissioner on 1914-05-01. Membership was strictly confined to members of European descent. Vice Admiral Robert Hamilton Anstruther, succeeded Major McHardy as Colony Commissioner in 1915-05-01. The Hong Kong Branch of The Boy Scout Association was set up in July 1915, and responsible for scout training and activities. At the end of September 1915, there were in total 155 members in the first census.[2]
Growth and development
During the World War I, most leaders were called up for war service and the Scout Movement in Hong Kong was at its ebb. One of the founders of the 1st Hong Kong Group, Lieutenant-Colonel F.J. Bowen returned to Hong Kong after the end of the Great War and actively participated in the Movement in Hong Kong. Because of his contribution, Bowen became the Colony Commissioner in July 1920 and reorganised The Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch. At the end of 1920, membership was approximately 140 members.
The reorganised association held its first Scout Rally at the Murray Parade Ground at Garden Road (now Cheung Kong Center) on 1921-01-08. In September 1921, the Reverend George Turner Waldegrave succeeded the Commissionership and the Scout Movement was firmly established in the Hong Kong though it was still small at 384 members. Sea Scout training had been started in May 1921 with the assistance of the staff of H.M.S. Tamar. It was left to Waldegrave however to start the first Sea Scout Troop which he registered and became Scoutmaster, (and eventually Group Scoutmaster) of in October 1923. During his visit to Hong Kong on 1922-04-06, the Prince of Wales presented his Banner bearing his own Coat of Arms to the Hong Kong Scouts as trophy for the winner of Colony-wide scout competition. The first 'Prince of Wales Banner Competition' was held in 1923.
In order to protect the Scouting activity and institute its constitution of the organisation, it was incorporated in the Boys Scouts Association Ordinance, nr 22 of 1927 of the Law of Hong Kong in 1927-12-02. After several amendments in 1939, 1950, 1975 and 1997, the ordinance has become chapter 1005 of the Law of Hong Kong. The Rev. Waldegrave returned to England in August 1934 and in recognition of his tireless work for the Branch was awarded the Civil Membership of the British Empire by His Majesty the King. A year or two prior to his retirement, the late Chief Scout Baden-Powell had awarded him the highest Scout award, the Order of the Silver Wolf. At the time, the number of members of the Scout Association, Hong Kong Branch, grew to 682.
The Reverend Nelson Victor Halward became Colony Commissioner on 1935-05-11 after the retirement of Rev. Waldegrave. Shortly before he took over the Commissionership, at the request of the Chinese Government in Kwangtung, Rev. Halward had spent many weekends directing a training course for Scouters of the Boy Scouts of China in Canton. So marked were the results of his efforts, a great improvement taking place in the relations between the Boy Scouts Association and the Boy Scouts of China, and also the Hong Kong Branch and Canton section of the Boy Scouts of China that he was also awarded the Order of the Silver Wolf for his great services to the movement.
Numbers were still increasing yearly and in 1938 Halward appointed District Commissioners either side of the harbour, viz., Quah Chow Cheung and Chan, who amply justified their appointment and a large step in membership showed to approximately 1200 members in 1942.
After 1937, China was at war with the Japanese army. There was a large influx of refugees pouring into Hong Kong. Several Troops of the Boy Scouts of China came to Hong Kong and have been incorporated into the Hong Kong Branch. Hong Kong Scouts were in the forefront of services and aids to war refugees. During the World War II, a number of Scoutmasters and adult members performed civic duties in the Special Constabulary, Police and Volunteer Defence Corps.
After the war, Hong Kong was repossessed by British forces. For the reconstruction of Scouting, the Imperial Headquarters of The Boy Scouts Association in the United Kingdom dispatched a five member Scout International Relief Service Team to revive the Hong Kong Scout Movement. A post-war St. George's Day Parade was held on 1946-04-28 at the Botanical Garden with the participation of 672 scouts and leaders. The salute was taken by the General Officer Commanding, Major General Francis Wogan Festing.
Changes to name and system
From 1967, the name The Boy Scouts Association, Hong Kong Branch was changed to The Scout Association, Hong Kong Branch. In 1969, also various section were renamed, e.g., Wolf Cub to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts to Scouts (age changed to 11–16) and Senior Scouts to Venture Scouts (age changed to 16–20).
A mixed unit of boys and girls Venture Scouts was set up in 1975. And formally from July 1978, girl members were accepted in the Venture Scout section, making the Scout association a co-educational organization, much earlier than the Scout Association of the United Kingdom.
The Commonwealth Commissioner, Sir Marc Noble visited Hong Kong on 1975-03-17. He suggested to The Scout Association of the United Kingdom that the Hong Kong Branch could stand on its own and should become a full member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Hong Kong was accepted by WOSM as its 111th full members on 1977-04-26 with its name formally changed to Scout Association of Hong Kong.
International activities until 2000
The 60th Anniversary of Hong Kong Scouting was celebrated by the Diamond Jubilee Jamboree held between 22 and 28 July 1971 at the present Tai Hing Housing estate in Castle Peak with the theme World Harmony. This jamboree was attended by more than 5,000 Scouts. Immediately following the Diamond Jubilee Jamboree, the 2nd World Scout Public Relations Seminar and the 5th Commonwealth Scout Conference were held. Hong Kong also hosted the 11th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference with the theme Scouting for the 80's in 1978. It was attended by over 300 delegates and observers from 19 members' countries. In 1980, the Administration Conference for Commissioners was held. The Scout Association of Hong Kong has organized a number of activities to echo the International Youth Year in 1985. For these achievements in community development, the Association received the Award for An Outstanding Year-long International Youth Year Programme at the 30th World Scout Conference held in Munich, Germany in July 1985. The Hong Kong Diamond Jubilee Jamboree was held at the Kohima Camp (now Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) from 1986-12-27 till 1987-01-01 with the theme March On.
In the early 1990s, the Chief Commissioner Chau Cham-son led the Association into a new era by having planned and completed in 1994 the 25-story Hong Kong Scout Centre, providing the Association with a meaningful foundation for its development to be financially self-sufficient. The year 1996 marked the 85th Anniversary of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong. The Scout Association of Hong Kong made use of the opportunity to raise more than one million dollars to provide assistance to youth members to attend World Jamborees. The 19th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference with the theme Scouting Beyond 2000 was successfully held in 1998 at Hong Kong Scout Centre. This was the first Scout Conference held completely on Scout premises.
His Majesty the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, Honorary President of the World Scout Foundation paid a private visit to Hong Kong for the 45th Baden-Powell World Fellowship Event hosted by the Scout Association of Hong Kong from 26 to 28 April 2002 at the Hong Kong Scout Centre. The event raised US$385,000 for the World Scout Foundation.
New millennium
Herman Hui, the Deputy Chief Commissioner (Support) of Hong Kong was elected member of the World Scout Committee at the 36th World Scout Conference which was held in Greece in July 2002. He is the second Hong Kong Scout Leader to be elected to such leading position in World Scouting. In the 37th World Scout Conference conducted in Tunisia in 2005, Hui was elected as the Chairman of the World Scout Committee for a term of three years.
In order to further develop the Scout Movement in Hong Kong and to heighten our output quality, Scout Association of Hong Kong, Into the 21st Century was published in 1999. A series of development plans included strengthening of internal communication, improvement of management efficiency and effectiveness, support for frontline operational units, projection of good scout image and membership growth were introduced. In this same line, The Vision, Mission and Values (VMV) of the Scout Association of Hong Kong was launched in October 2000 to provide a clear direction for all members. The target set in 1991 for the next decade to increase Scout members to 83,000 was achieved: membership was 89,925 at the end of 2002. The next target of membership growth is 100,000 members in 2004.
Pau Shiu-hung was appointed Chief Commissioner by Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Scout of Hong Kong and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He commenced his official duties as Chief Commissioner on 2004-01-01.
Organization
Chief Scouts and Chief Commissioners
The Chief Scout of Hong Kong (香港童軍總領袖) is the head of the Scout Association of Hong Kong. From 1914 till 1997 the function was held by the Governor of Hong Kong, and from 1997 onwards by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The Chief Scout is responsible for appointing the Hong Kong Chief Commissioner.
The Chief Commissioner (香港總監), usually abbreviated as CC, is the administrative head of the Scout Association of Hong Kong. The function was formerly known as Colony Commissioner. The first commissioner, Alexander Anderson McHardy, was appointed in 1914-05-01 when the Hong Kong Branch was formally registered at the Scout Association. The Chief Commissioner from 2004 onward is Pau Shiu Hung.
Regions and districts
Herald Dahl, Travelling Commissioner for the Commonwealth Scouts visited Hong Kong and suggested in 1951 that the association should develop their responsibilities to Districts. Following this, the Hong Kong branch of the association was divided into Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Districts. Later the former two were subdived each in two separate districts, resulting in a total of five Districts. In 1958, these where named Areas, with a number of Districts under them, in 1967 again renamed to be regions, with thirty-five districts.
| Region | Districts |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Island | Chai Wan, Northern, Sau Kei Wan, Southern, Victoria City, Wan Chai, Western |
| Kowloon | Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom, Kowloon City, Kowloon Tong, Mong Kok, Sham Mong, Sham Shui Po East, Sham Shui Po West, Yau Tsim |
| East Kowloon | Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, Lei Yue Mun, Sai Kung, Sau Mau Ping, Tseung Kwan O, Tsz Wan Shan, Wong Tai Sin |
| New Territories | Island, North Kwai Chung, Shep Pak Heung, South Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun East District, Tuen Mun West, Yuen Long East, Yuen Long West |
| New Territories East | Pik Fung, Shatin East, Shatin North, Shatin South, Shatin West, Sheung Yue, Tai Po South, Tai Po North |
| Special for English speaking people | Silver Jubilee |
| Special for family members of Nepalese Gurkha regiment in the British Army | Gurkha (until 1997) |
Scouting sections
The youth members of the Scout Association in Hong Kong are currently divided into five Scouting sections.
- Grasshopper Scouts, from 6 to 8 year
- Cub Scouts, from 7 to 12 years
- Scouts, from 11 to 16 years
- Venture Scouts, from 15 to 20 years
- Rover Scouts, from 18 to 25 years
A special Extension Scout section was set up for disabled. It is not an independent section, but customizes the programmes of the five sections for specific needs of disabled people.
An adult is eligible to be a Scout Leader from 18 to 65 years. They can serve in all five sections, or work for districts, regions, or branches in the headquarters.
Motto, Promise, and Law
The localised versions of the Scout Motto, Scout Promise, and Scout Law for each section are inherited from those of the Scout Association. They are officially provided in Chinese and English. At investiture it can be in a Scout's own language. The Motto is the same for all sections: Be Prepared (準備)
| Section | Promise | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Grasshopper | I promise to be a Grasshopper Scout to love God, to love people and to love my Country (我願參加小童軍，愛神愛人愛國家) | A Grasshopper Scout does a good turn every day (小童軍日行一善) |
| Cub Scout | I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to my Country to help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law (我願盡所能；對神明，對國家，盡責任；對別人，要幫助；對規律，必遵行) | Cub Scouts always do their best, think of others before themselves and do a good turn every day (幼童軍，盡所能，先顧別人 才顧己，日行一善富精神) |
| Scout, Venture Scout, Rover Scout and Leader | On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to my Country to help other people and to keep the Scout Law (我願以信譽為誓，竭盡所能；對神明，對國家，盡責任；對別人，要幫助；對規律，必遵行 |
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Headquarters
After the second World War, the British forces donated a piece of land near the Peak Tram Terminal in Garden Road. Here a new headquarters was erected and named Morse Hut (摩士小屋) after the President Sir Arthur Morse. Morse Hut was officially opened on 1949-11-12, and served as the headquarters until 1954. In this period, the headquarters of Wong Nai Chung District was also relocated to Morse Hut. And subsequently, Morse Hut was the headquarters of newly established Hong Kong Island Region from 1958 to 1978.
As the Hong Kong Scouting grew rapidly, after five years the Morse Hut was too small for the development. A new 3-story headquarter building in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon was erected at No. 9 Cox's Road with donations and assistance from Sir Arthur Morse and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as subsidies from Hong Kong Government. It was opened officially in 1954. The house was named Morse House (摩士大廈), and served as the headquarters until the June 1994, when the premises were returned to the Hong Kong Government for redevelopment.[3] Morse House was handed back to the Government in July 1994, after completion of the new headquarters.
Since June 1994, the headquarters of the Scout association is in the Hong Kong Scout Centre (香港童軍中心). It is at the Austin Road, beside the Kowloon Park and The Victoria Towers (港景峰) of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. The headquarters organization is housed on the 8th to 11th floor of the building, including Scout shops, meeting rooms, and a Scout exhibition of the history of the Hong Kong Scout organization on the 11th. Large part of the centre is B P International (龍堡國際賓館), a commercial hotel. Its profit is financing the building cost of the centre and the future development of Scouting in Hong Kong.
Scout Path (童軍徑) is a short road between the Hong Kong Scout Centre and the Victoria Towers. It became associated with Scouting in Hong Kong, probably on the suggestion of the Scout association. It connects the Austin Road and a terminal for Hong Kong-China cross-border buses under the Hong Kong Scout Centre.
Campsites
The Scout association runs several campsites in Hong Kong. The first permanent campsite, was Braker's Bungalow in Chaiwan. It was purchased in July 1929 by the Scout association at a cost of HK$16,000, and officially opened the same year as the Chai Wan Campsite. Here, the first Wood Badge training course was held in 1936. The site was returned to Hong Kong government in 1970 for urban development as the Chai Wan Park.
The 1960s saw the further expansion of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong. A 200,000 square metres site at Fei Ngor Shan (Kowloon Peak) was given by the government to the Scout association as a permanent campsite, which was named Gilwell Campsite (基維爾營地). It is used for camping and other Scouting activities. The site is located on the edge of Sai Kung District, five to ten minutes from Choi Hung. Nearby is the MacLehose Trail with road access through an unnamed road that joins with Fei Ngo Shan Road. The site is at an altitude of 430 m above sea level. A few minutes walk from the site, campers can see stunning views over Kowloon, the Harbour and Hong Kong Island. Unlike other campsites managed by the Scout association, the Gillwell Campsite does not provide catering services. The site has only a few buildings for offices, lectures and activities. The campsite is 45 minutes walk from the nearest bus stop of route 91, 91M, 92, 96R of KMB at Clear Water Bay Road near Anderson Road.
Another site located at Tsuen Wan west was also given by the government to develop a campsite named Ha Fa Shan Campsite. The site was returned to the government in December 1977 because of the unresolved problem in transportation and water source.
In the 1972, Tai Tam Scout Centre (大潭童軍中心) was granted to the Scout association in exchange for the Chai Wan Campsite. The site hosts a sea activities centre, officially opened in September of that year. It is located in Tai Tam Harbour at Tai Tam Tuk on the south shore of the Hong Kong Island. At the back of the site is a small hill, separating it from Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. Along the shore is a path leading to the dam of the reservoir, with a re-sited indigenous village of Tai Tam Tuk. Mangroves gather at the muddy beach of the mouth rivers. The sites facilitates both a stay at the hostel and camping for training and leisure. While Scouts have priority to use the site, it is also open for public use. Sports on offer include games of rope, rock climbing, archery, pioneering, canoeing, orienteering. The campsite is reachable by public buses passing through Tai Tam Road near Tai Tam Reservoir Road. They are available in Shau Kei Wan Station and Chai Wan Station of the MTR.
Another piece of land in Tung Tsz, Tai Po in the New Territories, was also granted to the Scout association, and was developed into the Tung Tsz Scout Centre (洞梓童軍中心), formally opened for Scouts on 1975-03-09. Sea activities can be done in the nearby Tai Mei Tuk Sea Activity Centre in Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po. The campsite has several bungalows for accommodation.
Scout activities: Hong Kong Scout Rally
The Scout Rally is a gathering of Hong Kong Scouts for getting awards and competing drills. Once every year, Scouts from all over Hong Kong and gather, usually in the Hong Kong Stadium. There are award ceremonies for honourable awards, such as The Golden Bauhenia Award for Cub Scouts, Chief Scout Award for the Scout Section, SAR Award for Venture Scouts, and BP Award for Rover Scout, also distinctive awards for Scout Leaders and Commissioners.
The Scout Rally was merged with the former St. George's Day Parade. As the number of Scouts increased significantly and the space in Hong Kong declined, owning to rapid urbanisation in past few decades, many traditions are simplified and only selected Scouts are allowed to actively participate in the drill and activities in the rally and others remains spectators.
While the Scout Rally is the major Scouting gathering for all Hong Kong Scouts, individual regions organise their own events such as the Fun Day of New Territories Region.
See also
- Hong Kong Girl Guides Association
- List of World Organization of the Scout Movement members
- Scouting in China
- Scouts of China
- The Scout Association of Macau
- World Organization of the Scout Movement
References
- ^ The early history of Scouting in Hong Kong is hard to trace because documents and other archived materials were largely destroyed during the Battle of Hong Kong and the subsequent Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong. Part of the documents were recovered from the copies and publications in the Scout Association of United Kingdom.
- ^ a b "History of HK Scouting". Scout Association of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
- ^ Ho Chi-Ping, Patrick. "A brief memoir in Morse House (in Chinese)" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-07-23.