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Spectacular action as Stonecutters opens to public
Ships, helicopters and assault craft will feature in spectacular action displays when the Royal Navy and Hong Kong's own soldiers, the Hong Kong Military Service Corps, open the gates of Stonecutters Island at the end of this month.
For the second time since the Navy moved from Central and the "island" itself was joined to the mainland, the two branches of the Armed Services will be mounting a weekend-long programme of public events on January 27 (Saturday) and January 28 (Sunday).
Highlights of the two-day programme will be action displays in the basin of HMS Tamar. In addition, a full shore programme will include arena demonstrations by motor-cycle and dog display teams together with traditional dragon and lion dances as well as music staged by the Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
The last Open Days weekend was staged two years ago.
The Open Days weekend is being staged firstly to raise money for the Locally Enlisted Personnel Trust, the charity set up by the British Forces to provide funds for Hong Kong Chinese ex-members of the British Garrison who may find themselves in need or distress after 1997, and secondly to allow the public access to the military and to show them some of its work.
Also open to the public during the Open Days will be a large number of souvenir shops, games stalls and military displays, some of which will provide opportunities to examine and handle selected items of military equipment.
Admission to Stonecutters Island during the Open Days will be by tickets, which will be on sale as follows:
Date
January 6 - 14
Date
Star Ferry Concourse
Central & Tsim Sha Tsui
MTR Station
January 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21
January 7, 14 & 21
End
Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsuen Wan, Kowloon Tong, Kwun Tong, Central and Tai Koo
Mong Kok