FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1978
DUKE OF KENT TO VISIT HONG KONG
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HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT, A COUSIN OF THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (MARCH 5) FOR A FIVE-DAY VISIT IN HIS CAPACITY AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE BOARD (BOTB).
DURING THE VISIT, THE DUKE WILL OPEN THE BRITISH INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION AT KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION IN HUNG HOM.
HE WILL ALSO VISIT THE TSING YI POWER STATION, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, AND MEET MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE UMELCO.
THE 42-YEAR-OLD DUKE IS NO STRANGER TO HONG KONG. IN 1952, HE ACCOMPANIED HIS MOTHER, THE DUCHESS OF KENT, ON HER FAR EASTERN TOUR WHICH BROUGHT HIM TO HONG KONG. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS ALSO SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR HERE FROM NOVEMBER 1962 TO DECEMBER 1963 ON REGIMENTAL DUTIES WITH THE ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.
BORN ON OCTOBER 9, 1935, HE WAS EDUCATED AT ETON AND AT LE ROSEY IN SWITZERLAND. ON LEAVING SCHOOL IN 1953 HE DECIDED TO MAKE THE ARMY HIS CAREER AND WAS POSTED TO THE PRE-CADET TRAINING COMPANY IN SANDHURST.
HE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY IN 1955 AND WAS GAZETTED A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE ROYAL SCOTS GREYS. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS SERVED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT HOME AND OVERSEAS, AND ATTENDED THE ARMY STAFF COURSE IN 1966.
HE SUBSEQUENTLY SERVED ON THE STAFF IN EASTERN COMMAND AND IN 1970 TOOK COMMAND OF A SQUADRON OF HIS REGIMENT SERVING IN CYPRUS AS PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORCE.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS RETIRED FROM THE ARMY AT HIS OWN REQUEST IN APRIL 1976, TO TAKE UP THE APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOTB.
AS VICE-CHAIRMAN, THE DUKE HAS BECOME THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE DAY TO DAY AFFAIRS OF BRITISH INDUSTRY. HE SHOULDERS WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES, REPRESENTING THE BOARD BOTH OVERSEAS PROMOTING EXPORTS AND AT FREQUENT MEETINGS WITH BRITISH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL FIRMS WHICH IS A MAJOR PART OF ITS WORK.
IN JUNE 1961, THE DUKE WAS MARRIED TO MISS KATHARINE WORSLEY IN YORK MINSTER. THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A BRIEFING ON FACILITIES AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PRESS TO COVER THE VISIT OF THE DUKE OF KENT WILL BE HELD AT 3 P.M. ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 27) IN THE GIS THEATRE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND.
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