HONG KONG: FINAL REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS HELD

(10 Nov 1996) Cant/Eng/Nat

The British Colony of Hong Kong has held the last Remembrance Sunday ceremony before its sovereignty is handed to China next summer.

It is unknown whether the same ceremony will be held once the territory is governed by its SAR government (Special Administrative Region) next year.

There is no more poignant reminder of this island's colonial past than the Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

As always, it was held at the Cenotaph in Central Hong Kong ,Sunday, to honour those who gave their lives during both World Wars

The service had extra resonance this year as is the last time the British will run the ceremony before Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule next July.

Governor Chris Patten laid a giant wreath of poppies at the Colonial style remembrance service.

It is not known whether the same ceremony will be able to be held under the yet to be formed SAR government.

Among those who came to pay their respects to their fellow servicemen are Chinese and Anglo-Saxon veterans of the Second World War, all in their seventies and eighties.

Although coming from different backgrounds, these ex-servicemen all have one thing in common - they fought against the same enemy during World War II.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"But I'm here today remembering the war dead but I'm remembering a positive way by fighting for the living, by raising funds on Poppy Day for the Chinese ex-servicemen, and I'm fighting now for the Chinese invasion, wives and war widows to be granted British passport."
SUPERCAPTION: Jack Edwards, Former POW

SOUNDBITE: (Cantonese)
"My worse memories was when I was in a mountain, we all had guns to protect ourselves. One section would go up to the top of the mountain and only a couple would make it back."
SUPERCAPTION: Chan Shu Sum, Veteran British Forces serviceman

Regardless of what sort of ceremony is held next year, one thing is certain - the British flags which have been flying over the territory for more than 100 years will not be there.

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