Page 157 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
new dogs had been requested for some years. By early November 1996 there were seventeen dogs remaining. On 25th November 1996, fourteen dogs were live cast – four to RHKP (two went on the 4th), three to the Correc- tional Services Department, and seven to Dog Power Ltd. Regarding the latter, LCpl Wong had approached me with his business plan and the OC and myself were delighted that he planned to found this company with a local entrepreneur, thus ensuring employment for himself and six other unit handlers.
The three remaining dogs were 9B37 Drax, B198 Duke and 227A Luther. On 4th November 1996 they were moved to Stonecutters Island where they were handled by Staffordshire Regiment dog handlers that we had trained in Sek Kong. On 31st January 1997, these three dogs were live cast from 1 Stafford’s to CSD. They were the last British military dogs to serve in Hong Kong.
It was an excellent tour, living and working in Sek Kong in the New Territories. Each morning I would get driven to work in a Land Rover from my married quarter in Sek Kong village by Cpl Kwan Chak Lau, who ran the MT and unit stores. At the end of each day, I would run home via the runway and local farms regardless of the heat index. From June to August 1996, I ran a Class Two Dog Trainers’ course for three Gurkha Cpl’s (from GRU Brunei), two Correctional Service officers, a Hong Kong Customs and Excise Section, and HKMSC JNCOs.
The Protection dog teams guarded TDBG ASA (an ammunition compound), RAF (28 AC Sqn), 50 HK Workshops and Stonecutter’s Island. At 0800 on 4th November 1996, at 50 HK Workshops the final patrol by a DASU RAVC dog team was completed, which was a sad day. My family was the second last of all the families to move out of a married quarter in Sek Kong Village. They flew out on holiday where I joined them mid-December to mid-March 1997 when we flew back to England via HK. Our Unit’s three-story building with our offices, stores, accommodation, duty room etc was emptied and handed over late November. The Unit moved to Stonecutters Island where all the HKMSC with Captain Irish participated in the Hong Kong Military Service Corps Disbandment Parade on Stone- cutters Island on Saturday 14th December 1996.
Due to the Unit drawing to a close, soldier numbers had been reduced prior to my arrival and those remaining were among the best. However, it also meant that there would be no promotions, the last of these was conferred upon the dedicated Cpl Kong Po Tim who became a Sgt. It saddened me that our remaining Cpls, who were all outstanding and deserved to be Sgts, and numerous outstanding LCpls could not progress their careers.
I had been fortunate enough to serve in Hong Kong
on three occasions and saw a lot of changes over two decades. Looking back, it had been my favourite posting and it was a privilege to serve there. I wish to express my appreciation and thanks to all the HKMSC who served with professionalism and pride in our Unit over the years and the wives and families who supported us all.”
Hong Kong RAVC Reunion 2012
Due to the closure of the Hong Kong Units, many soldiers sadly faced compulsory redundancy. Having to leave their chosen Army career and commence a second form of livelihood was not easy for all. Many went on to found successful businesses or enterprises. As LCpl Ka Man Christopher Leung put it:
“We the Hong Kong soldier had much friendship with our colleagues and still remain in contact with them, even though many are now working in different parts of the world. Like the RAVC in England we still have a gathering every year. Our Hong Kong RAVC reunion usually takes place in a large Chinese restaurant and the cuisine is not the same as the food in Melton Mowbray but genuine Chinese cooking!
Even though we left the Army many years ago, to see the old faces, talk about stories from our border duties and sharing good times with old friends is great. We grew up in the RAVC, learning many skills in the Army but more importantly building long lasting friendships with our buddies... We never forget we are RAVC soldiers!”42
“Hong Kong Vets fight on”
In 2019, Soldier Magazine featured an article highlighting the continuing fight for recognition of British Hong Kong Service personnel:
The organisers of a campaign calling for full veterans’ rights for former British Hong Kong Service personnel are hoping the appointment of a new Home Secretary will lead to a successful outcome for their efforts. The group held talks with Sajid Javid earlier in the year but the recent Cabinet re-shuffle means that the issue now sits with his successor, Priti Patel.
The campaign was launched in 2012 and focuses on those who served in the British Army’s Hong Kong Military Service Corps. It was disbanded prior to the Territory’s transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997 and one hundred and fifty-nine soldiers and Navy personnel were successful in achieving a UK right of abode. However, many more missed out and the campaign is calling for two hundred and sixty-five veterans and their families to be given the same privilege: “These
42 Chiron Calling Spring 2013. ‘Hong Kong RAVC Reunion 2012.’
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