XN000022-1997-04-24 — Page 34

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Royal Navy history book is a Hong Kong best seller

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Since its launch only two weeks ago the book White Ensign, Red Dragon - A History of the Royal Navy in Hong Kong 1841-1997 has sold over a quarter of its limited print run and looks set to race up the territory's best seller lists.

This runaway success story continues at the weekend when the book's editor, Senior Naval Officer and Chief of Staff, Commodore Peter Melson, attends a book- signing session at the Swindon Book Co Ltd, at Kowloon Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui, between 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm on Saturday (April 26).

Signed copies of the full-colour, hard-back publication describing the vital role played by the Royal Navy in the founding of the colony, will be available at HK$500 (HK$300 unsigned) with all proceeds going to the Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP) Trust. The Trust was established by the British Garrison to provide assistance to Hong Kong Chinese ex-Servicemen who may fall on hard times post-1997 and since the book was launched on 10 April over HK$100,000 has already been raised.

White Ensign, Red Dragon, which marks the final chapter in the Royal Navy's long association with the territory, is published by EFP.

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Last ANZAC Day for British Forces

For the last time before their departure from the territory in June, British Forces will attend the annual Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day commemorations at the Cenotaph tomorrow (Friday).

Four Cenotaph sentries from the Queen's Gurkha Signals and a bugler from 1st Battalion The Black Watch will take part in the early morning ceremony which honours the men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces who gave their lives on active service.

Among those Garrison personnel laying wreaths during the ceremony will be Commander British Forces Major General Bryan Dutton, and Lieutenant Commander Nick Sandeman Royal Australian Navy.

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