It might be recalled that the local Volunteer force became moribund for a time, but was reconstituted as an Artillery unit (see 22-7-33 et seq.)
In the Hongkong Telegraph of November 15, 1883, appears the following:
It will be remembered that when the old corps was disbanded, the recruits for the new artillery were only sufficient in number to form one battery. Meanwhile a movement was on foot having for its object the formation of a corps of riflemen as adjuncts to the artillery. About 100 citizens joined for this purpose. However, Government refused to enrol a body of riflemen until a sufficient number of men came forward to make up a second battery of artillery.
In consequence of this an endeavour was made to get the requisite number of men for "B" Battery.” Thirty members of the Portuguese community were recruited for this purpose on the understanding that at least one of the community would be selected as a commissioned officer. A meeting was held and a ballot taken, when the amazing discovery was made that a gentleman who was already an officer of "A" Battery had received most votes, and the third and fourth on the list were also members of the already existing battery. The irregularity and unfairness of the election was the subject of much comment.
This reference to a former Portuguese section of the Corps is of more than usual interest, as showing a precedent for the constitution, a few years ago, of a Portuguese unit officered largely by men of their own community.
While on the subject of the H.K.Volunteers the different official designations might be noted.
Volunteer Corps reconstituted in 1893; changed to Hongkong Defence Corps in 1917, and designated Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps since 1920.
There has recently been an attempt to infuse fresh enthusiasm into the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps, while the newly-formed Naval Volunteer detachment is evidently attracting a great deal of attention. In the course of these articles references have been made to the local Volunteers, and to previous efforts to create a Naval detachment. It is intended to deal here with various points which have since come to light as well as summarise what is known of the Corps from existing records.
The local Volunteer movement can be dated back to 1862. Actually the movement was suggested in 1860 in a letter to the local press, and the idea must have developed in the minds of many public spirited and patriotic people. The original suggestion was a Rifle Corps, but nothing came of it for exactly two years. In January 1862 the idea was revived, various influential persons were approached, and a public meeting was called, this being held on March 1, that year, in the old Court House on Queen's Road. The gathering passed a resolution that a Volunteer Corps be formed, and the Government were approached, readily falling in with the suggestion. Under an Ordinance introduced that year provision was made for the enrolment of any resident of Hongkong, irrespective of nationality. Captain (afterwards Lieut.-Col.) F. Prine, R.E., was appointed the first Commandant and the original officers were elected from among the members of the Corps, these being Messrs. W. Kane, R.B. Baker, J.M. Frazer and J. Dodd.