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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
REGIMENT DELVES INTO ITS HISTORY *****
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TODAY (FRIDAY) LAUNCHED A MAJOR APPEAL SEEKING UNIFORMS, MEDALS, EQUIPMENT, BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS TO ASSIST IT IN SETTING UP A MUSEUM.
+THE STORY OF THE REGIMENT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STORY OF HONG KONG,+ SAID HONORARY COLONEL, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE VOLUNTEERS OF TODAY CAN DIRECTLY TRACE THE IR HISTORY BACK TO 1854 ONLY 13 YEARS AFTER HONG KONG WAS FOUNDED.+
THE BRAVERY OF THE CHINESE, PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH AND OTHER NATIONAL ITY SOLDIERS OF THE HONG KONG VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS IN THE 1941 BATTLE AGAINST THE JAPANESE IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN, SAID MR HEYWOOD.
TODAY THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT CARRIES ON THE PROUD TRADITIONS OF VOLUNTEERING IN HONG KONG.
+FOR SOME YEARS WE HAVE FELT THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PROPER MUSEUM IN WHICH HISTORICAL ITEMS CAN BE PROPERLY DISPLAYED AND WHERE THE STORY OF THE REGIMENT CAN BE TOLD, HE SAID, +WE WOULD BE MOST INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAS SOMETHING WHICH THEY MIGHT BE OF INTEREST. +
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT WHILE A LOCATION FOR THE MUSEUM HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALISED, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT A START BE MADE ON COLLECTING ITEMS.
+UNFORTUNATELY, ALL REGIMENTAL RECORDS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST WERE LOST DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF HONG KONG FROM 1941 TO 1945. I WOULD LIKE, THEREFORE, TO APPEAL FOR HELP IN BUILDING UP A COLLECTION OF MEMORABILIA AND RECORDS.
+WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHS, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, REGIMENTAL SILVER, LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, BOOKS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS, BADGES AND MEDALS.
+UNDERSTANDABLY, INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT WISH TO PART WITH SOME ITEMS AND, THEREFORE, WE WOULD,
THEREFORE, WE WOULD, IF POSSIBLE MAKE COPIES BEFORE RETURNING THEM TO THE IR OWNERS.+
IN ADDITION TO THE SETTING UP OF A MUSEUM WORK IS NOW PROCEEDING ON THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT. MR PHILLIP BRUCE HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION TO PRODUCE THIS AND IS NOW ENGAGED IN RESEARCH.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT ANYONE WITH MATERIAL WHICH THEY FELT WOULD INTEREST THE REGIMENT'S MUSEUM SHOULD CONTACT THE COMMANDING OFFICER, LT. COL. J. HUTCHINS, ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) SPORTS ROAD, HAPPLY VALLEY, ON 5-761371.
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