Hong Kong Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.--These Hong Kong Scouts are demonstrating their fire starting skills at some sort of public demonstration.

The principal youth group in Hong Kong has been the Boy Scouts, reflecting Hong Kong's status as a British colony. Scouting has proven very popular in Hong Kong. The major activity day is saturday and on that day Scouts can be seen all over Hong Kong. We believe there were also Boys' Brigade unit. We are less sure about the Young Pioneers. I do not know of any Young Pioneer units before the Chinese takeover in 199?. I am not sure if any Young Pioneer units have subsequently been organized.

Boy Scouts

The principal youth group in Hong Kong has been the Boy Scouts, reflecting Hong Kong's status as a British colony. Scouting has proven very popular in Hong Kong. The major activity day is saturday and on that day Scouts can be seen all over Hong Kong. Hong Kong Scouts since their foundation have faced many crisis. None have been more severe than the Japanese occupation. The Scouts now face a new crisis, the 1997 incorporation into the People's Republic which does not permit Scouting. The Chinese Government has permitted Hong Kong's democratic institutions to continue. The Scouts continue to function, but thevlong term future of Scouting with its British traditions, including the uniform, are unknown. The Hong Kong Scout Movement began informally in 1909, only a few years after it began in England, when groups of scouts were first established. Organized scout groups were founded in 1911 by British merchants and army officers. The Hong Kong Branch was formally registered in 1913 with the London Headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association (now the Scout Association).

Boys' Brigade

We believe there were also Boys' Brigade unit. we have very limited information on the Brigade in Hong Kong. The Brigade during 1960 began operating in Hong Kong. I'm not sure why the Brigade did not begin operating in such an important colony as Hong Kong so much later than in other British colonies. Perhaps the Chinese were beginning to look more favorably on the British and British institutions.

Young Pioneers

We are less sure about the Young Pioneers. We have very limited information on the Young Pioneers. I do not know of any Young Pioneer units before the Chinese takeover in 199?. I am not sure if any Young Pioneer units have subsequently been organized.