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TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1994
STANLEY FORT CLOSES AS BRITISH MILITARY BASE
A PRESENCE OF SOME 143 YEARS (LESS THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION) EFFECTIVELY ENDS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHEN THE LAST UK-BASED INFANTRY BATTALION OF THE BRITISH ARMY TO BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG SOUNDS RETREAT AT STANLEY FORT AND HAULS DOWN ITS FLAG FOR THE LAST TIME.
A BUGLER AND A PIPER OF THE 1ST BATTALION THE BLACK WATCH WILL BE PRESENT FOR THE TRADITIONAL EVENING CEREMONY, WHICH IN THIS CASE WILL MARK THE END OF THE BATTALION'S LAST WORKING DAY IN HONG KONG.
THE REMAINING INFANTRY COMPONENT OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE 1ST BATTALION, THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES, BASED AT CASSINO LINES NEAR FANLING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
MEMBERS OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RETURNING TO BRITAIN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AS PART OF A PHASED PROGRAMME.
FROM TOMORROW THE BATTALION WILL BE ON LEAVE PRIOR TO TAKING UP ITS NEW TOUR OF DUTY AT PIRBRIGHT IN ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER.
ONLY A SMALLER REAR PARTY WILL REMAIN IN HONG KONG TO COMPLETE THE CLOSURE OF STANLEY FORT AND PREPARE IT FOR HAND-OVER TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
THE CEREMONY WILL ALSO BRING TO A CLOSE 143 YEARS (LESS THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION) OF BRITISH MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE STANLEY FORT SITE.
IT WAS FIRST OCCUPIED IN SEPTEMBER 1841, WITHIN WEEKS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HONG KONG, WHEN A DETACHMENT OF THE 98TH REGIMENT OF FOOT WAS SENT TO GARRISON WHAT WAS THEN A NOTORIOUS PIRATE STRONGHOLD.
MOST OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE PRESENT FORT DATE FROM THE WHEN THE SITE WAS REDEVELOPED AS A BASE FOR COASTAL ARTILLERY.
1930S,
DURING WORLD WAR II IT WAS USED BY THE JAPANESE AS AN INTERMENT
AND PRISON CAMP.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FINAL SOUNDING OF RETREAT AND LOWERING OF THE UNION AND BATTALION FLAGS. THEY SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE MAIN GATE, STANLEY FORT, NOT LATER THAN 5.30 PM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
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