Our Ref: TXN 062/12
Your Ref: PROT 1/2481/64
V L Warrington Esq OBE Director of Protocol Government Secretariat Hong Kong
HARD 315/1
mak p.a. pl.
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWIA 2AH
"(Awards) 20 August 1992
&w 2118
Mr Stowe 2118
Mips Willian
in
2:18
21/m2
Further to my letter of 7 July we have now received the MOD response to the proposal for a medal to mark the disbandment of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment in 1995 your letter of 7 July also refers.
2. I do not think it will come as a surprise for you to know that the proposal has not found favour with MOD. They have pointed out that The Queen may award medals to members of the Armed Forces for gallantry, campaigns, national
commemorations, or long service and efficiency/good conduct the proposal falls outside these categories. Furthermore they point out that to limit the issue to serving members of the Regiment would be divisive, and may not be understood by other personnel serving in Hong Kong, particularly the HKMSC.
3. As an alternative the MOD suggest that the Royal Hong Kong Regiment may wish to consider commissioning a picture or scroll which could be presented to all serving members immediately prior to disbandment. However, the funding for such a venture could not be provided by MOD, and would therefore have to be identified locally.
DE Tarling Honours Unit
Blind Copy: Mr Ricketts, HKD
vlw
(19)