Hong Kong Boy Scout Uniforms


Figure 1.--The various Hong Kong Scout uniforms are shown here. The Cubs uniforms includes cullotes for the girls worn with white kneesocks. /td>

Hong Kong Scouts since their foundation have faced many crisis. None have been more severe than the Japanese occupation. The Scouts now face a new crisis, the 1997 incorporation into the People's Republic which does not permit Scouting. The Chinese Government has permitted Hong Kong's democratic institutions to continue. The Scouts continue to function, but the long term future of Scouting with its British traditions, including the uniform, are unknown.

Background

The Hong Kong Scout Movement began informally in 1909, only a few years after it began in Engkand, when groups of scouts were first established. Organized scout groups were founded in 1911 by British merchants and army officers. The Hong Kong Branch was formally registered in 1913 with the London Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association (now the Scout Association). The Hong Kong Scouts had to disband during the Japanese occupation. Europeans were interred and it would have been dangerous for Chinese boys to have appeared in public dressed in a scout uniform. Scoting was quickly resablished when the British returned in 1945. Hong Kong Scouts in 1977 were accepted as the 111th member of the World Organization of Scout Movement in the names of The Scout Association of Hong Kong (TSAHK). The total membership of the Scout movement in Hong Kong as at December 1996 stood at 53,049.


Figure 2.--Hong Kong Scouts are coeducational consisting of mixed groups of boys and girls. Uniforms are identical except the girls wear skirts or cullotes instead of short pants.

Scouting and China

The future of Hong Kong scouting is unknown. Hong Kong in 1997 reverted to Chinese control. The Chinese for now are letting Hing Kong to continue much as it was before unification. Thus Scouting has not yet been interfered with. The Chinese Communist Party, however, maintains tight control over institutions and programs affecting children. Scouting is not permitted in China itself. The only authorized Chinese youth program is the communist Pioneers. So far the Chinese have allowed Scouting to continue in Hong Kong as tey have continue to permit other Hong Kong institutions to continue operating. How long the Chinese will allow a separate system to exist in ong Kong remains to be seen.

The TSAHK

The TSAHK comprises the Association Headquarters which is responsible for central administration and management, 4 Regions and 36 Districts. TSAHK has two subsidiaries namely the Baden Powell Scout Club of Hong Kong and The Friends of Scouting. The former serves as an umbrella body for retired and former members of the Association to render continued support to the Scout Movement in Hong Kong; while the latter promotes the spirit of Scouting among children and youths of the community. In addition, there are 9 campsites and activity centres for training and activities.


Figure 3.--Hong Kong Scout wear dark green berets, light-colored shirts, green short oants, and dark green kneesocks. The kerchiefs vary from unit to unit.

Groups

Hong Kong has several Scout groups. We have only limitedinformation on the various groups at this time. One of the Hong Kong Scout groups is the 2nd Hong Kong Scouts. It was composed of mostly Catholic Scouts--Scouts from Catholic schools. Brother Mario Colleoni P.I.M.E., established the former 16th Hong Kong Group in the 1930s, but like other Scout groups had to disband during the Japanese ocpation at the end of 1941. After World War II, Scout groups in Hong Kong were reorganized. 2nd Hong Kong (Catholic) Group was registered with the Scout Association of Hong Kong on September 1, 1946. The leaders consisted of the Scoutmaster from Holland, Assistant Scoutmasters from England and Portugal, and Brother Mario himself from Italy. Gradually local Hong Kong leaders became more prominent. The 2nd Hong Kong describes itself as a semi-open group comprising mainly of Catholics and students from Catholic schools. The Sponsoring Authority is the Catholic Cathedral and the Spiritual Guide has always been the parish priest of the Catholic Cathedral. Father Wei is the current Spiritual Guide. Brother Mario, founder of Catholic Scouting in Hog Kong, had dedicated his whole life to the Church and Scouting and was awarded the Bronze Lion Medallion in 1983. He passed away in 1987. Since 1987, Mr. Max Law had become the Group Scout Leader (GSL) until he emigrated to Quebec, Canada in 1993. He was also the District Commissioner of Victoria City District. Mr. Patrick Li is the current GSL. The Group is easily identifiable with its yellow on the right and white on the left scarves as ell as the yellow and white Group Flag. These colours were chosen because they are the colours of the Pope--the leader of the Catholic Church. Actually they should be gold and silver but cloth in these colours was too expensive and difficult to obtain back in the 1940s. Most of the Leaders have been members of the Group since they were Cub Scouts or Scouts.


Figure 4.--These boys are Venture or Rover Scouts with different uniforms from the Scouts.

Training

The TSAHK organizes between 200 to 300 training programmes and activities for scouts and leaders every year. Besides training in scouting, Scout members also actively participate in community services on a regular basis to perform their Promises and Laws. TSAHK continues to offer a more comprehensive range of services to the community in order to maintain close relations with it.

Scouting Levels

Hong Kong Scouts aew organized rather like Enhlish Scouts. Hong Kong Scouts are divided according to their ages into five sections, namely Grasshopper Scout, Cub Scout, Scout, Venture Scout and Rover Scout. The most import level of Scouting is Cubbing. More Hong Kong boys are involved in Scouting than any other Scouting level. The names are typical Scout names for these groups, except for the grasshoppers which is a destinctive Chinese name for the new pre-Cub entry level group. Perhaps in Hong Kong, a name like Tiger Cubs was consiere too fierce for the younger boys. In addition, there are various non-Chinese speaking groups as well as Scout groups for handicapped children and youths under rehabilitation programme.

Activity Day

Saturday appears to be the principal Scout activity day in Hong Kong. Scouts can be seen all over the city involved in various activities on Saturday.


Figure 5.--These Hong Kong Scouts are parading showing the British influence. American Scouts were never as involved with military-like drill. For formal events the Scouts wear their berets, but we notice in more informal settings they often take their berets off.

Activities

Hong Kong Scouts participate in the same Scout activities as other Scouts around the world. Hong Kong is, however, is a city, a very heavily urbanized city. Thus Hong Kong scouting is urban Scouting and the Scouting activities reflect this. Scouts in other cities have many opportunities for hiking and camping in parks and wilderness areas outside the city. In the case of Hong Kong, political boundaries make this very difficult. This may not have been the case in the early years of Scouting, but after the Communist Revolution the border between Hong Kong and the People's Republic was a highly militarized border. After the Cultural Revolution, tensions declined, but it is unclear if uniformed Scouts were permitted in China. Since unification in 1997, I'm not sure if China allowed uniformed Scouts to enter China. Scouting is not permitted in China, only the Young Pioneers.

Scout Day

Scout Day is a major event for Hong Kong Scouts of all levels. Scout Day is November 29. There are a variety of ceremonies and parades. Troop sponsor stalls at the Island Scout Day bazaar. One Troop did a "Shoot the Hoop". The participants had to answer some questions regarding Scouting. Island Scout Day is organized by the Hong Kong Island Region annually, which is a fun day for all the Groups in the Region. Merits of Excellence are awarded to the best Scout elements.

Gender

Hong Kong Scouting appears to be coed. We note many images of boys and girls in Scouting units. We also noice some all boy units. There my be ome variations among the diffetent Hong Kong scout groups.

Scout Uniforms

Many of the different Scout groups have distinctive uniforms. The two principal groups are Cubs and Scouts. There are also other grouos like Grasshoppers, Air Scouts, Sea Scouts, Ventures, and Rovers. The different age levels, however, have quite similar uniforms. The Grasshoppers, Cubs, and Scouts wear similar uniforms. The major difference is the head gear. The tradition Cub peaked cap is instantly recognizable. They all strongly show the British influence on Hong Kong Scout uniforms as it does on the overall Scouting program. We note that while many Scout groups around the world have gradually placed less and less emphasis on the Scout uniform. Hong Kong Scouts are still generally well turned out in Scout events.







HBU






Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Chronology Pages:
[Return to the Main chronologies page]
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s] [The 1990s] [The 2000s]



Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Web Site:
[Return to the Main Hong Kong youth group page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biography] [Chronologies] [Countries] [Essays] [Garments] [Organizations] [Other]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Questions] [Unknown images]
[Boys' Uniform Home]



Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Web organizatiion pages:
[Return to the National Scout page]
[Boys' Brigade] [Camp Fire] [Hitler Youth] [National] [Pioneers] [Royal Rangers] [Scout]





Created: November 15, 1998
Last updated: 12:13 AM 11/7/2004