COPY.
Enclosure No.4.
4.4
HONG KONG NAVAL VOLUNTEER FORCE.
REPORT FOR 1934.
Although considerable work was undertaken and
progress made in connection with the formation of the Force
in 1933 it is considered that the first official year is that
of 1934 since financial provision was first made in the Estimates of that year for the maintenance of the Force.
However, since it is advisable to have a record of the work
of formation a summary of the various steps taken is here
set down.
2.
At the beginning of September, 1933, the question of establishing a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the Colony
was revived in a letter from His Excellency the Governor,
Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., to Commodore F. Elliott,
O.B.E., R.N.
On 28th., September, 1933, a meeting was held in
the premises of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club at North Point under the chairmanship of A.L. Shields Esq., the
Commodore of the Club.
Arising out of the questions asked at this meeting
it was decided to approach the Government with a request that
"The Force" be governed by its own Ordinance and this Ordinance was placed before the Legislative Council on 22nd.
December, 1933. It came into operation on the 5th. February,
1934 by notice in the Gazette.
3. The Ordinance provides for the establishment of a
Naval Volunteer Defence Force and calls for service within
the limits of the Colony, its neighbouring waters and its
sea approaches.
4.
Instruction, under Lieutenant W.E.C. Lowndes, R.N., was commenced in December, 1933; and, after the appointment