Chinese military warns it can hit Hong Kong in TEN MINUTES as Beijing masses hundreds of armoured vehicles on city's border. In January 1948 the Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit (HKCTU) was formed by the Hong Kong ethnic Chinese who had served in the various artillery and coastal defence units during the Battle of Hong Kong in World War II, with the aim of recruiting and training Hong Kong ethnic Chinese soldiers to assist and support the British Garrison in Hong Kong. He was one of 2, 000 soldiers who served in the defence of Hong Kong. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have called on the government to do more to preserve World War II relics after finding a cluster of Japanese fortifications neglected and exposed to damage in the New Territories.The trench system with 14 pillboxes is on a 120-metre knoll in Luk Keng.To reach the hilltop site on […] It commands the western approaches to the harbour and not surprisingly it was occupied by the military who first established a coastal defense battery (Fort Davis) … Observers estimate the Hong Kong garrison numbers between 8,000 and 10,000 troops split between bases in southern China and a network of former British army barracks in Hong Kong. Recruitment, selection and training was carried out by Training Company, commanded by a British Army Major, adopting the British Regular Army Recruit Training Syllabus. View my complete profile Australian Prisoners of War with Hong Kong & Malaya Forces 1939-45 Mostly Unsung Military History research and Publications As its name suggests, this is simply a list of repatriated Australian POWs, fifty-nine of whom were captured in Hong Kong as members of the HKVDC. As all members of the HKMSC were British Regular Army soldiers, they received a Regular Army Service Record Book when they left the army. A Hong Kong company has cut ties with Myanmar’s military, which staged a coup last week, terminating its contract to upgrade a commercial airliner to a VIP jet for generals after the deal was exposed in an OCCRP investigation. Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has been the only regular British army unit raised in the territory made up almost entirely of Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP). The HKMSC Shooting Team won the Team and Individual champion pistol shot a number of times at RASAAM (the Regular Army Skill at Arms Meeting) at Bisley, in the UK, and in 1992 a Training Company team representing the HQ and Depot HKMSC won the Dragon Cup for military skills (outperforming the Queen's Gurkha Signals in signalling and the British Military Hospital team in first aid); the competition was not held again. They also provided interpreters, clerks, Regimental Police and light-infantry personnel in Dragon Company of the General Service Corps (GSC) headquartered in Osborn Baracks, Kowloon Tong. Chilling message was sent by … Training Company were also responsible for training the Ammunition Sub-Depot guards, made up of Hong Kong Sikhs (recruited as their religion barred them from smoking). Others joined the British Territorial Army (TA). Those enlisted before World War II were numbered HK1802xxx; those who joined after World War II, HK1826XXXX and HK1827xxxx. The Hong Kong garrison of the People’s Liberation Army is based in what was formerly the British military headquarters on Hong Kong Island. The HKMSC recruit training instructors were all initially trained in Hong Kong by the KHMSC, then in the UK. As all members of the HKMSC were British Regular Army soldiers, they received a Regular Army Service Record Book when they left the army. US lawmakers vow ‘swift consequences’ if Chinese military cracks down in Hong Kong. Beijing pushes a disinformation campaign against Hong Kong protesters... Chinese military police hold exercises near the border of Hong Kong in nearby Shenzhen. The Dragon logo was officially adopted by the HKMSC as their Corps Badge and Corps Flag. The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to China in 1997. Many of them had also been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GC) after 15 years of good and loyal service. HKMSC soldiers paid United Kingdom income tax (at a 'Hong Kong' rate), via the MoD, like their British counterparts. Chinese military warns it can hit Hong Kong in TEN MINUTES as Beijing masses hundreds of armoured vehicles on city's border. Other battle groups were Royal Artillery, Canadian Battalions, Indian Forces and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force. 'buffalo') in memory of their predecessors. Ex-military Services in British Hong Kong January 18 at 3:46 AM Members of the Band of the Cheshire Regiment performs at Sha Tin Racecourse, New Territories, Hong Kong, 1984 Hundreds of students sing the Chinese communist patriotic song " Ode to the motherland" Military and Diplomacy Hong Kong defers to mainland China in two primary areas: military defense and international relations. At the same time, there is a second wave of the coronavirus locks down, affecting 100 million Chinese. The HKMSC became a part of the General Service Corps of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Kingdom. Mount Davis is a prominent hill feature situated at the western end of Hong Kong Island. My first book "Battle for Hong Kong December 1941" was published by Amberley in the UK in 2019. Hong Kong military heritage researchers dismayed to find World War II relics in state of neglect. 26th Gurkha Brigade (1948–1950) 2. On this Memorial are inscribed the names of over 2,000 people, 228 of them Canadian, who died with no known grave. 1 like • 6 shares. Hong Kong (CNN) China will ban US warships and military aircraft from making stops in Hong Kong in the wake of Washington passing legislation supporting the … Hong Kong (CNN) China's top military commander in Hong Kong has emphasized the role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in upholding "national sovereignty" in the city a … Of the 1,975 Canadian personnel who came to assist Hong Kong, approximately 1,050 either died or were wounded by the time the war ended: a 50 per cent casualty rate. Unit personnel were enlisted as officers and drivers in 29 Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) based in Gun Club Hill Barracks. All HKMSC soldiers did their basic training in Hong Kong and afterwards from time to time attended upgrading and trade courses in the United Kingdom. [1] Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has been the only regular British army unit raised in the territory made up almost entirely of Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP). The HKMSC offered locally recruited and trained Hong Kong Chinese soldiers the opportunity to pursue a full career in the British Regular Army up to and including Queen's Commissioned Officer rank in the General List (HKMSC). The history of Hong Kong ethnic Chinese soldiers serving in the British Army can be traced back to the 1880s when Hong Kong locals were employed by the Royal Engineers in the building of barracks and defence work. The history of Hong Kong ethnic Chinese soldiers serving in the British Army can be traced back to the 1880s when Hong Kong locals were employed by the Royal Engineers in the building of barracks and defence works. In 1962 the HKCTU became the Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) and consequently the GSC capbadge was replaced by a Dragon emblem. 'water mine and coastal artillery soldiers') or sui ngau (Chinese: 水牛; lit. Chilling message was … China's top military commander in Hong Kong has emphasized the role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in upholding "national sovereignty" in … Hong Kong was the first place Canadians fought a land battle in the Second World War.From 8 to 25 December 1941, almost 2,000 troops from Winnipeg and Quebec City — sent to Hong Kong expecting little more than guard duty — fought bravely against the overwhelming power of an invading Japanese force. The facility was moved to a site At the same time, there is a second wave of the coronavirus locks down, affecting 100 million Chinese. The HQ and Depot was commanded by a British Lieutenant Colonel, as Commandant, with a British Depot Adjutant and a Hong Kong Chinese Corps Adjutant (both Majors), a British Depot Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) and a Hong Kong Chinese Corps RSM (both WO1s) and a British Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) and Superintendent Clerk (ORQMS), (both WO2s). In July 2006, Britain granted full British citizenship to all Gurkha soldiers and their dependants who had served in Hong Kong, however only 500 HKMSC soldiers and their families were granted British citizenship under the British Nationality Selection Scheme (BNSS) before the HKMSC was disbanded. The Dragon logo was officially adopted by the HKMSC as their Corps Badge and Corps Flag. Some ex-HKMSC soldiers who had already resided in the United Kingdom, re-enlisted in the British Army on a Military Local Service Engagement (MLSE), Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS). Ethnic Chinese Hong Kongers also saw active service outside Hong Kong in Burma in 1942 against the Japanese forces, they fought alongside the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. Training Company were also responsible for training the Ammunition Sub-Depot guards, made up of Hong Kong Sikhs (recruited as their religion barred them from smoking). The Hong Kong Military Service Corps maintained its reputation for loyalty and military skill at the highest level, often outshining British and Gurkha troops based in Hong Kong. The HKMC trained physical training instructors (PTI) in the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC), medics in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) based in the British Military Hospital (BMH), military police in the Royal Military Police (RMP), helicopter support crews in 660 Squadron Army Air Corps (AAC) based at Sek Kong Airfield, cooks in the Army Catering Corps (ACC), Weapons and Supplies Storekeepers in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) and intelligence staff in the Intelligence Corps. Speaking on BBC radio, Britain’s last governor of the city before the 1997 handover said it would be “a catastrophe for China and of course for Hong Kong” if there was a military intervention. A surprising amount of Hong Kong's military buildings still exist. However, the United Kingdom allowed only 500 HKMSC soldiers and their families to be granted British citizenship under the British Nationality Selection Scheme (BNSS), before the HKMSC was disbanded. All HKMSC soldiers were basically trained in Hong Kong and from time to time attended upgrading and trade courses in the United Kingdom. According to media reports, military and security vehicles from the People's Armed Police have gathered in Shenzhen, a city just outside of Hong Kong… Historian Tim Ko Tim-keung, who has been researching Hong Kong's historic military sites since the 1990s, said the Luk Keng pillboxes have good educational potential and deserve to be conserved. Hong Kong-born ethnic Chinese soldiers (British Dependent Territories Citizens) of the HKCTU pledged allegiance to the Monarch of the United Kingdom and were enlisted into the General Service Corps (GSC) of the British Regular Army and they wore the GSC capbadge. Chinese military police hold exercises near the border of Hong Kong in nearby Shenzhen. During the Gulf War and in the early 1990s, the HKMSC provided officers and soldiers, primarily drivers and ambulance crews, to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on peacekeeping operations. China Bars U.S. Military From Hong Kong Ports Over Support For Protesters In retaliation for U.S. adoption of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, … The Deputy Commander British Forces (a Brigadier), was the Brigadier HKMSC (a largely honorary title). Other Battle Groups were Royal Artillery, Canadian Battalions, Indian Forces and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force. Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Kingdom, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, "Exhibition reveals history of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kong_Military_Service_Corps&oldid=979260575, Military units and formations disestablished in 1996, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles with dead external links from November 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 September 2020, at 19:01. Hong Kong may not maintain its … Many of them were also awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GC) after 15 years of good and loyal service. Hong Kong Walter Reed National Military Medical Center News Hong Kong Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming News Hong Kong Watervliet Arsenal News Hong Kong Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts News Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military units and formations disestablished in 1996, Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Kingdom, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Military_Service_Corps?oldid=5304192. Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery. BILL CHONG (AGENT 50) William “Bill” Gun Chong was born in Vancouver in 1911. British gallantry awards, membership of orders of chivalry, decorations and medal Ribbons had also been presented/granted to some HKMSC soldiers: these include the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM), the British Empire Medal (BEM), Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) status and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) status. Good step in the right direction, Hong kong high school students receive patriotic military training in PLA camps and on PLNA warships in Hong kong. The most prominent sites are a helicopter regiment at Shek Kong Air Base, a naval base with a … Sometimes because they are in out-of-the-way places that noone has thought about redeveloping yet. The Hong Kong Military Service Corps maintained its reputation for loyalty and military skills at the highest level, often outshining British and Gurkha troops based in Hong Kong. Chinese military vehicles have been filmed assembling along the Hong Kong border as pro-democracy protests continue. An Airbus A319 acquired by Myanmar’s military from a domestic airlin South China Morning Post - Gigi Choy • 1h. During the Gulf War and in the early 1990s, the HKMSC provided officers and soldiers, primarily drivers and ambulance crews, to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on peacekeeping operations. The HKMSC became a part of the General Service Corps of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Kingdom. Some ex-HKMSC soldiers who were resident in the United Kingdom re-enlisted in the British Army on a Military Local Service Engagement (MLSE), with the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), and others joined the British Territorial Army (TA). Members of the HKCTU were, later, frequently nicknamed, locally, in Cantonese Chinese, as sui lui pao bing (Chinese: 水雷炮兵; literally: "water mine and coastal artillery soldiers") or sui ngau (Chinese: 水牛; literally: "buffalo") in memory of their predecessors. It’s being plummeted into the hands of Chinese military occupation. Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has been the only regular British army unit raised in the territory made up almost entirely of Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP). He happened to be in Hong Kong, dealing with his late father’s estate, when the Japanese invaded. A large number of ethnic Hong Kong Chinese were killed or became prisoners of war. This Identification Tag was worn by RFM Clement Cyr while he was a prisoner of war in Japan from 1941 until 1944. Hong Kong: Satellite photo shows huge military convoy gathering - protestors on alert CHINA has ramped up its military presence near Hong Kong as pro-democracy protestors continue to … Hong Kong demonstrations threatened to overshadow celebrations in Beijing for China's 70th anniversary. 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (1957–1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976-97; returned to old title 1987-ca.1992) Below the memorial, the Sai Wan Bay War Cemetery slopes towards the sea, with a panoramic view of the coastline and … The People’s Liberation Army manages 19 sites in Hong Kong, including 12 barracks. The battle group of the British Battalions consisted of 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. In 1962 the HKCTU became the Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) and consequently the GSC capbadge was replaced by a Dragon Emblem. The unit's headquarters and training depot were originally located in Lyemun Barracks in 1948, between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan. The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). Just before the handover, the Hong Kong Ex-servicemen Association was formed by some of the local ex-servicemen; the association has branches in the UK and Canada. The history of Hong Kong ethnic Chinese soldiers serving in the British Army can be traced back to the 1880s when Hong Kong locals were employed by the Royal Engineers in the building of barracks and defence work. Protesters in Hong Kong seem undeterred by China's thinly veiled threat of sending in the armed forces. Hong Kong is a multi-trillion dollar a year financial hub for the world. During the Japanese occupation, a portion of the hospital was used for the care of prisoners of war. They estimated the number of military … It then moved to the Stonecutters Island in 1985. On a knoll in Luk Keng in the northeastern part of Hong Kong’s New Territories, lies a large-scale military complex including 14 pillboxes built by Japanese imperial forces in World War II. Hong Kong is a multi-trillion dollar a year financial hub for the world. Most of the HKMSC recruit training instructors were initially trained in Hong Kong, then in UK. HKMSC trained physical training instructors (PTI) also served in the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC), as medics in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) based in the British Military Hospital (BMH), military police in the Royal Military Police (RMP), helicopter support crews in 660 Squadron AAC, Army Air Corps (AAC) based at Sek Kong Airfield, cooks in the Army Catering Corps (ACC), Weapons and Supplies Storekeepers in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) and intelligence staff in the Intelligence Corps. Sometimes because they are still under the control of the military authorities, and so are out of bound for redevelopment. A large number of ethnic Chinese Hong Kongers were killed or became prisoners of war. In 1996 the unit was disbanded prior to the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China in 1997. Many ethnic Chinese Hong Kongers fought alongside the British troops in the defence of Hong Kong in World War II. Those enlisted before WWII were numbered HK1802xxx; those who joined after WWII HK1826XXXX and HK1827xxxx. Feb 23, 2021 - Hong Kong fell to the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941 following a brief but intense period of fighting. The HKMSC reached a peak strength of 1,200 men, providing the British garrison in Hong Kong with support personnel. Good step in the right direction, Hong kong high school students receive patriotic military training in PLA camps and on PLNA warships in Hong kong. A surprising amount of Hong Kong's military buildings still exist. Clement Cyr was born in New Richmond in the province of Quebec. But Beijing would pay a steep price if it were to send in troops, says DW's Mathias Bölinger. The unit's Headquarters and Training Depot were originally located in Lyemun Barracks in 1948, between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan. Major units of the British Armyin Hong Kong included: 1. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong have called on the government to do more to preserve World War II relics after finding a cluster of Japanese fortifications neglected and exposed to damage in the New Territories.The trench system with 14 pillboxes is on a 120-metre knoll in Luk Keng.To reach the hilltop site on […] HKMSC soldiers who were posted to and served with other non-HKMSC units wore the other units' cap badges. British gallantry awards, membership of orders of chivalry, decorations and medals were also presented /granted to some HKMSC soldiers; these include the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM), the British Empire Medal (BEM), Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) status and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) status. The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Traditional Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). The Deputy Commander British Forces (a Brigadier), was the Commandant HKMSC (a largely honorary title). Three of the envoys said the contingent of Chinese military personnel in Hong Kong had more than doubled in size since the protests began. 51st Infantry Brigade (disbanded 1976) 3. ... Military might was on show with processions of tanks, … Sometimes because they are in out-of-the-way places that noone has thought about redeveloping yet. Initially the Dragon insignia, which was a Division Sign, had represented the Hong Kong Garrison and all British army soldiers serving in Hong Kong wore a Dragon cloth-badge on their uniform. Initially the Dragon insignia, which was a Division Sign, had represented the Hong Kong Garrison and all British army soldiers serving in Hong Kong wore a Dragon cloth-badge on their uniform. Recruitment, selection and training was carried out by Training Company, commanded by a British Army major, adopting the British Regular Army Recruit Training Syllabus. Many ethnic Chinese from Hong Kong fought alongside the British troops in the defence of Hong Kong in World War II. It provided crews for 415 Maritime Troop based on Stonecutters' Island, dog handlers in the Defence Animal Support Unit (DASU) of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) based in Sek Kong, officer instructors in the Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC), officers and clerks in the Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC), technicians in the Royal Signals (R Sigs) of the Queen's Gurkha Signals (QGS) and engineers and armourers in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). The battle group of the British Battalions consisted of 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. HKMSC soldiers who were posted to and served with other non-HKMSC units, wore the other units' cap badge. Prior to the handover of Hong Kong, the territory was under British rule, and the defence of Hong Kong was the responsibility of the British … HONG KONG — When Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese control in 1997, one of the biggest worries was how the Chinese military would behave. Unit personnel were enlisted as light-infantry, Regimental Police, interpreters and clerks in Dragon Company of the General Service Corps (GSC) headquartered in Osborn Barracks, Kowloon Tong; officers and drivers in 29 Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) based in Gun Club Hill Barracks; crews for 415 Maritime Troop based on Stonecutters' Island; dog handlers in the Defence Animal Support Unit (DASU) of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) based in Sek Kong; officer instructors in the Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC); officers and clerks in the Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC); technicians in the Royal Signals (R Sigs) of the Queen's Gurkha Signals (QGS) and engineers and armourers in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). It consisted of two blocks, each of 3 stories, configured with wards and a central administrative block. He was part of a forgotten generation of Canadians who learned first hand the horrors of war. In 1996 the unit was disbanded prior to the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China in 1997. Hundreds of students sing the Chinese communist patriotic song " Ode to the motherland"