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HK Chinese sailors to take part in last naval divisions
More than 160 Hong Kong Chinese sailors will be on parade tomorrow (Friday) when they take part in their final Royal Naval Divisions at HMS Tamar.
The parade will also provide the opportunity for the ships' companies of HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy's shore establishment, and of Her Majesty's ships Peacock and Plover, to applaud the hard work and loyalty of the Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP) over the years.
There to take the salute at Stonecutters Island will be Chief of Staff and Senior Naval Officer, Commodore Peter Melson. Also present will be the Commanding Officer of HMS Tamar, Commander Ross Thoburn, who will bid his Chinese sailor a ceremonial farewell before he leaves the territory in a few weeks time to take up a new post in the United Kingdom.
Music for the occasion will be provided by the Cape Collinson Marching Band.
LEP are known to have served in warships from the very early days of the Royal Navy in Hong Kong, but were not the organised, uniformed force of today.
They saw service throughout the whole of the British Fleet until 1974 when, for the first time, the LFP no longer had any commitment other than that of the immediate policing and defence of Hong Kong. The only opportunity for service outside the territory in recent years has been a deployment in one of the three ships of the Hong Kong Squadron, although a small number have been drafted to the United Kingdom to undergo professional courses to enhance their technical knowledge.
As their history illustrates, the Hong Kong LEP have long been a loyal group Royal Naval personnel.
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Two-day exhibition of statistical work and data
As part of the Serving the Community Week programme organised by the Government during the week of December to 7, the Census and Statistics Department will hold an exhibition of Statistical Work and Data tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday (December 7).
"We provide quality statistics. We serve the community." is the main theme of the event.