XN000022-1981-05-31 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1981

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GOVERNOR THANKS ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TODAY (SUNDAY) THANKED THE HONG KONG ROYAL RÉGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) FOR THEIR SERVICE DURING THE RECENT PERIOD OF LIMITED CALL-OUT AND ESPECIALLY THE IR MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE TO THE FULL CALL-OUT LAST OCTOBER.

SPEAKING AT THE REGIMENT'S PASSING OFF PARADE, SIR MURRAY ALSO THANKED EMPLOYERS FOR ALLOWING VOLUNTEERS LEAVE OF ABSENCE WHEN NEEDED. THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THE REGIMENT OWES MUCH TO THEIR PUBLIC SPIRIT AND SUPPORT, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE REGIMENT HAS A FINE TRADITION AND MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE PRIDE IN IT AND IN THE IR WORK FOR IT. LIKE THE REGIMENT, THEY WILL SERVE HONG KONG WELL.

THE GOVERNOR PRAISED THE TRAINING CADRE FOR HAVING THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE ON RECORD, EXCELLENT PROFICIENCY AND FITNESS, AND CONGRATULATED IT ON HAVING MADE SUCH AN EXCELLENT START.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:

+ I AM HONOURED TO REVIEW YOUR PASSING OFF PARADE TODAY.

+THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT HAS A FINE REPUTATION, AND COMPETITION TO JOIN IT IS KEEN. SO IT IS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AT ALL, AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SUCCESS.

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+ I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A STAR TRAINING CADRE, WITH THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE ON RECORD, EXCELLENT PROFICIENCY AND FITNESS, AND THAT YOUR INSTRUCTORS ARE PROUD OF YOU. SO I CONGRATULATE YOU ON HAVING MADE SUCH AN EXCELLENT START IN THE REGIMENT.

+ IT IS A FINE REGIMENT WITH A FINE TRADITION. IT IS PART OF THE BRITISH ARMY, YOU WILL SERVE ALONGSIDE UNITS OF THAT ARMY AND THEY HAVE THEIR TRADITIONS AND BATTLE HONOURS. SO HAS OUR REGIMENT. SO HAVE PRIDE IN IT, AND IN YOUR WORK FOR IT, AND THUS LIKE THE REGIMENT, YOU WILL SERVE HONG KONG WELL, HONG KONG NEEDS SUCH SERVICE AND IT NEEDS THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT FOR THE IR SERVICE DURING THE RECENT PERIOD OF LIMITED CALL-OUT AND ESPECIALLY THE IR MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE TO THE FULL CALL-OUT LAST OCTOBER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE IR EMPLOYERS. THE IR SUPPORT FOR THE REGIMENT THROUGH ALLOWING VOLUNTEERS LEAVE OF ABSENCE WHEN NEEDED, IS VERY GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THE REGIMENT OWES MUCH TO THE IR PUBLIC SPIRIT AND SUPPORT.

+ I WOULD FINALLY LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR EVERY SMART TURN OUT AND DRILL AND ON YOUR BEARING ON PARADE THIS MORNING. WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN YOUR CAREER WITH THE VOLUNTEERS.+

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