XN000022-1982-02-06 — Page 7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982

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CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE STAGES BEATING THE RETREAT

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OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WERE RECALLED TO THE IR TAI LAM CHUNG TRAINING SCHOOL THIS EVENING (SATURDAY) WHERE THE CEREMONY OF BEATING THE RETREAT WAS HELD.

THE CEREMONY, THE FIRST EVER HELD BY THE SERVICE, WAS PERFORMED BY THE PIPES AND DRUMS OF THE QUEEN'S GURKHA ENGINEERS. THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN TOOK THE SALUTE BEFORE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPECTATORS, INCLUDING GUESTS REPRESENTING CUSTOMS SERVICES OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES. MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE GAVE A PERFORMANCE OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL DANCING AND MUSIC AS AN OVERTURE TO THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS.

BEATING THE RETREAT IS A CEREMONY BELONGING ESSENTIALLY TO THE ARMY AND ROYAL MARINES. THE ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM IS OBSCURE, BUT THERE ARE RECORDS DATING BACK TO 1554 OF DRUMMERS BEING USED IN THE NORMAL DAILY ROUTINE TO RECALL TROOPS TO THEIR BARRACKS, FORTS OR ENCAMPMENTS AT SUNSET. A SIMILAR DRUM SIGNAL WAS USED TO ORDER TROOPS TO BREAK OFF BATTLE AND RETURN TO DEFENDED LINES.

WITH CHANGING TIMES AND MILITARY PRACTICE, BEATING THE RETREAT NO LONGER SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE. IT IS PRIMARILY USED NOWADAYS AS A PARADE CEREMONY WHERE THE REGIMENTAL BAND WITH THE CORPS OF DRUMS GIVES A MARCHING DISPLAY TO ITS OWN REGIMENTAL MUSIC WHILST CARRYING OUT INTRICATE DRILL MOVEMENTS.

THE CEREMONY MARKS A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN CLOSE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE GURKHA AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.

THE BAND AND OTHER UNITS OF THE REGIMENTS FREQUENTLY GIVE SUPPORT TO FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDE MUSIC FOR THE PASSING-OUT PARADES OF THE SERVICE.

MORE PARKING METERS

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ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IN MAN FUK ROAD AND MAN WAN ROAD IN HO MAN TIN WILL BE METERED FROM 8 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8).

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT AS THERE IS A HIGH DEMAND FOR PARKING SPACES IN KWUN TONG, WONG TAI SIN, SHAM SHUI PO AND HUNG HOM, THE SAME ARRANGEMENT WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED IN THESE DISTRICTS SHORTLY.