Figure 1.--These Hong Kong Scouts from the 2nd Hong Kong Scouts are participating in sports Day during 1997. /td>

One of the Hong Kong Scout groups is the 2nd Hong Kong Scouts. It was composed of mostly Catholic Scouts--Scouts from Catholic schools. Brother Mario Colleoni P.I.M.E., established the former 16th Hong Kong Group in the 1930s, but like other Scout groups had to disband during the Japanese ocpation at the end of 1941. After World War II, Scout groups in Hong Kong were reorganized. 2nd Hong Kong (Catholic) Group was registered with the Scout Association of Hong Kong on September 1, 1946. The leaders consisted of the Scoutmaster from Holland, Assistant Scoutmasters from England and Portugal, and Brother Mario himself from Italy. Gradually local Hong Kong leaders became more prominent. The 2nd Hong Kong describes itself as a semi-open group comprising mainly of Catholics and students from Catholic schools. The Sponsoring Authority is the Catholic Cathedral and the Spiritual Guide has always been the parish priest of the Catholic Cathedral. Father Wei is the current Spiritual Guide. Brother Mario, founder of Catholic Scouting in Hog Kong, had dedicated his whole life to the Church and Scouting and was awarded the Bronze Lion Medallion in 1983. He passed away in 1987. Since 1987, Mr. Max Law had become the Group Scout Leader (GSL) until he emigrated to Quebec, Canada in 1993. He was also the District Commissioner of Victoria City District. Mr. Patrick Li is the current GSL. The Group is easily identifiable with its yellow on the right and white on the left scarves as ell as the yellow and white Group Flag. These colours were chosen because they are the colours of the Pope--the leader of the Catholic Church. Actually they should be gold and silver but cloth in these colours was too expensive and difficult to obtain back in the 1940s. Most of the Leaders have been members of the Group since they were Cub Scouts or Scouts. The Group consists of one Venture Scout unit, a Scout troop and two Cub Scout packs. They meet every Saturday afternoon from 14:30 to 16:30 at Catholic Mission Primary School.

Cubs

Both boys and girls participate in Cubbing, but there re a lot more girls than boys. The the biggest number of members are in the Cub Scout section. Pack A consists of Sixes Red, Yellow, Green, White, and Blue. There are 32 boys and 15 girls. Pack B consists of Sixes Red, Yellow, Green, White, Blue, and Grey. There are 38 boys and 15 girls. There are physical fitness events, table tennis competitions, Christmas events, Scout Day events, activites with other Cubs involving sand sculpting and other events. Fun Day at the Tai Long Beach is a popular event.

Scouts

There are three Scout patrols (Eagle, Lion, and Tiger) consisting of 18 boys and 9 girls. Camps are held at the Tai Tam Scout Centre. Hiking is conducted on the Island Trail (Tai Long Beach [Big Wave Bay] to Tai Tam Reservoir). The Scouts also participate in a Sports Day.

Ventures

Other Scouting friends put the blame on the education system in Hong Kong. As students in the age of 17 to 20 have to take two of the most important examinations of their life, which include the Certificate of Education Examination and the Advanced Level Examination for universities entrance. The social pressure is so big that many parents would simply use all ways and means to persuade their children to quit Scouting after leaving the Scout troops at the age of 16.