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Quartermaster
Sergeant (RQMS) and Superintendent Clerk (ORQMS), (both WO2s). Recruitment, selection and training was carried out by Training Company, commanded by a British Army Major, adopting the British Regular Army Recruit Training Syllabus. The HKMSC recruit training instructors were all initially trained in Hong Kong by the KHMSC, then in the UK. 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 Deputy Commander British Forces (a Brigadier), was the Brigadier HKMSC (a largely honorary title).
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333:(HKMSC) and consequently the GSC capbadge was replaced by a Dragon emblem. 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. The Dragon logo was officially adopted by the HKMSC as their Corps Badge and Corps Flag. The HKMSC became a part of the
350:
received a
Regular Army Service Record Book when they left the army. Many of them were also awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GC) after 15 years of good and loyal service. British gallantry awards, membership of orders of chivalry, decorations and medals were also presented /granted to some HKMSC soldiers; these include the
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parliamentary work, some 350 voices, votes for the ex-Hong Kong servicemen. Rosindell was supported by
Russell Banks and Peter Vorberg throughout the Campaign. Vorberg took over team leadership from Banks Veteran on 31 January 2019. Veteran Banks continued as a RoA advisor to the Campaign until its end on 29 Mar 2023.
495:
In late 2012/2013, The
Honorable Mr Andrew Rosindell MP (for Romford) United Kingdom (Conservative) took and led this RoA Campaign into the British parliament establishing a 'Parliamentary Support Group' in April 2013. Rosindell summoned strong support within Government over the following 10 years of
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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.
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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. Hong Kong-born ethnic Chinese soldiers (British Dependent Territories Citizens) of the HKCTU pledged allegiance to the Monarch of the United Kingdom and
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In 2019 both the
British Ministry of Defence MOD and the British Government formerly recognised the Hong Kong Military Service Corps HKMSC as a regular British Army Corps and not as only a former Hong Kong Garrison Local Employed Personnel LEP unit. *This recognition came about as it was one of
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The HKMSC reached a peak strength of 1,200 men, providing the
British garrison in Hong Kong with support personnel. 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. HKMSC soldiers who were posted to
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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. The HKMSC Shooting Team won the Team and Individual champion pistol shot a number of times at RASAAM (the Regular Army
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In March 2012, Peter
Vorberg and Russell Banks RMP Veterans started the Right of Abode Campaign for all former British Hong Kong military servicemen supported by Roger Ching HKMSC RMP HK veteran, Huw Matthews RMP Veteran, Jo Lee HKMSC - RMP HK Veteran, Alain Lau HKMSC - HK RAVC Veteran, Victor Ho
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On 29 Mar 2023, it was agreed by the British Government and announced this day that RoA in the United Kingdom will be sanctioned to those ex-Hong Kong Servicemen not given RoA on or the handover to PRC China in 1997 under the title, 'New Settlement Route for former Hong Kong Servicemen. *See the
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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). As all members of the HKMSC were British Regular Army soldiers, they
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in 1985. 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
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In 1996, the unit was disbanded prior to the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China in 1997. 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.
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Some ex-Hong Kong servicemen 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).
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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,
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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.
30:
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In July 2006, Britain granted full British citizenship to all Gurkha soldiers and their dependants who had served in Hong Kong. Only 159 Hong Kong servicemen were granted British citizenship under the
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Ethnic Hong Kong Chinese also saw active service outside Hong Kong in Burma in 1942 against the Japanese forces, where they fought alongside the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.
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were enlisted into the General Service Corps (GSC) of the British Regular Army and they wore the GSC capbadge. Members of the HKCTU were later frequently nicknamed, locally, in
326:'buffalo') in memory of their predecessors. Those enlisted before World War II were numbered HK1802xxx; those who joined after World War II, HK1826XXXX and HK1827xxxx.
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RHKR (Volunteers) Veteran, Set Yuen RMP HKSMC - RMP HK Veteran and later in 2019 by Stella Thornton WRAC Provost RMP Veteran. In 2019 Roger Ching left the Campaign team.
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402:(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
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633:"Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence - Exhibition - Past Exhibitions - Unsung Bravery: History of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps"
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During the Gulf War and in the early 1990s, the HKMSC provided officers and soldiers, primarily drivers and ambulance crews, to the
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HKMSC soldiers paid United Kingdom income tax (at a 'Hong Kong' rate), via the MoD, like their British counterparts.
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484:(BNSS) on handover of Kong Kong in 1997 for their Armed Forces service based upon a 'points system of criteria'.
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259:. The British Battle Group consisted of 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and the
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222:: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see
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the discussion areas brought forward by the RoA Campaign / evidence brought forward.
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271:. A large number of ethnic Hong Kong Chinese were killed or became prisoners of war.
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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-settlement-route-for-hong-kong-veterans
437:(RAMC) based in the British Military Hospital (BMH), military police in the
680:"Hong Kong British Army veterans: 'We have become the forgotten soldiers'"
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and served with other non-HKMSC units wore the other units' cap badges.
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The unit's Headquarters and Training Depot were originally located in
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HKMSC trained physical training instructors (PTI) also served in the
594:"Exhibition reveals history of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps"
647:"Unsung Bravery: History of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps"
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in 1948, between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan. It then moved to the
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The Closing Parliamentary Early Day Motion for the RoA Campaign
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Hong Kong Military Service Corps: British Citizenship Places
649:. Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 13 December 2013
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Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
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Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
308:'water mine and coastal artillery soldiers') or
406:(RAVC) based in Sek Kong; officer instructors in the
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1996
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453:(ACC), Weapons and Supplies Storekeepers in the
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471:United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
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251:fought alongside the British troops in the
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424:Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
422:(QGS) and engineers and armourers in the
164:Water mine and coastal artillery soldiers
731:Military of Hong Kong under British rule
55:Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC)
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49:Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit (HKCTU)
514:Depot Hong Kong Military Service Corps
473:(UNFICYP) on peacekeeping operations.
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706:Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen's Association
604:from the original on 1 September 2019
457:(RAOC) and intelligence staff in the
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523:Naval base and no longer an "island"
504:British Government statement below.
482:British Nationality Selection Scheme
569:Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
441:(RMP), helicopter support crews in
410:(RAEC); officers and clerks in the
205:Brigadier 48 Brigade DCBF Hong Kong
682:. 11 November 2013. Archived from
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269:Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force
224:British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
141:British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
736:British Armed Forces deployments
331:Hong Kong Military Service Corps
216:Hong Kong Military Service Corps
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574:Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
279:Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit
329:In 1962, the HKCTU became the
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519:Stonecutters Island – now a
431:Army Physical Training Corps
408:Royal Army Educational Corps
564:Hong Kong Volunteer Company
414:(RAPC); technicians in the
404:Royal Army Veterinary Corps
263:. Other Battle Groups were
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559:Hong Kong Chinese Regiment
261:Hong Kong Chinese Regiment
42:Hong Kong Chinese Regiment
554:Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps
549:Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps
544:Hong Kong Adventure Corps
455:Royal Army Ordnance Corps
433:(APTC), as medics in the
58:(1962 – 14 December 1996)
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534:Royal Hong Kong Regiment
435:Royal Army Medical Corps
400:Royal Corps of Transport
352:Queen's Gallantry Medal
182:Lion Rock (Quick March)
539:British Army Aid Group
420:Queen's Gurkha Signals
439:Royal Military Police
335:General Service Corps
277:In January 1948, the
52:(1948 – January 1962)
686:on 29 December 2014.
443:No. 660 Squadron AAC
412:Royal Army Pay Corps
356:British Empire Medal
345:British Army careers
247:Many ethnic Chinese
228:history of Hong Kong
451:Army Catering Corps
378:Stonecutters Island
283:Battle of Hong Kong
220:Traditional Chinese
168:Traditional Chinese
155:Traditional Chinese
122:Territorial Defence
459:Intelligence Corps
226:). Throughout the
202:Honorary Brigadier
516:, Lyemun Barracks
362:(MBE) status and
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288:Cantonese Chinese
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124:Logistics Support
87:British Hong Kong
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418:(R Sigs) of the
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255:of Hong Kong in
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137:Part of
105:British Army
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40:
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653:16 February
354:(QGM), the
147:Nickname(s)
720:Categories
580:References
508:Facilities
187:Commanders
218:(HKMSC) (
194:commander
602:Archived
528:See also
426:(REME).
310:sui ngau
234:Overview
132:1800 men
114:Infantry
358:(BEM),
337:of the
314:Chinese
296:Chinese
253:defence
239:History
192:Current
151:Buffalo
63:Country
23:香港軍事服務團
608:12 May
316::
298::
102:
93:Branch
84:
72:
46:(1941)
37:Active
290:, as
179:March
655:2024
610:2020
323:lit.
305:lit.
300:水雷炮兵
214:The
172:水雷炮兵
129:Size
119:Role
111:Type
521:PLA
722::
618:^
600:.
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461:.
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341:.
320:;
318:水牛
302:;
170::
159:水牛
157::
657:.
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312:(
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