Author name: RCommSHK

Unlocking Opportunities Together: Hong Kong celebrates Commonwealth Day 2026 March 15, 2026 Hong Kong’s celebrations of Commonwealth Day 2026 commenced early on the morning of Monday 9 March 2026, with a Service of Remembrance held at The Cenotaph in Central to honour the service and sacrifice of Commonwealth servicemen who fought and died in the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch (RCSHK), the service was led by The Reverend Will Newman of St John’s Cathedral, commencing with a flag-raising ceremony that saw the Commonwealth Flag raised over the Cenotaph alongside the Chinese and Hong Kong flags. Prayers for the fallen were followed by the playing of the Last Post and the Reveille by a bugler from the Hong Kong Police Band. Poppy wreaths were subsequently laid at the base of The Cenotaph by Sir Nicholas Tam (RCSHK), Captain Charles Lee (Royal Hong Kong Regiment Association), and Mr Angus Stevenson-Hamilton QPM CPM (Royal Hong Kong Police Association). In the evening, members of the Commonwealth community gathered in the company of Commonwealth consuls-general representing Brunei, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, and South Africa for the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration, held at The Hong Kong Club. Reflecting the captivating diversity of the Commonwealth, the interfaith Service of Celebration was officiated by The Reverend Shazz Turnquest, a proud Bahamian and Chaplain of St Paul’s College alongside leaders of the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Zoroastrian religions in Hong Kong, who expressed heartfelt sentiments seeking greater peace and stability in a tumultuous world, also lighting candles for faith, hope, love, and peace. RCSHK Vice Chairman, Sir Nicholas Tam, lit the Commonwealth Candle to represent the shared yearning for peace, justice, and prosperity throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. RCSHK President, Mr Neville Shroff JP, lit the Hong Kong and China Candle to express the wish for peace and prosperity to flourish in the city, throughout China, and for the city and country to be a shining beacon for good in the world. The Commonwealth Affirmation was led by RCSHK Chairman, Mrs Alexandra Tracy, reciting the belief in the unique worth and dignity of each individual, respect for the environment, justice for all, and peace between peoples and nations. The Affirmation reflected on the 2026 Commonwealth Day theme of ‘Unlocking Opportunities Together’, which called on countries and communites to work together to improve people’s lives. The Service of Celebration was followed by an Official Reception for The King’s Commonwealth Day Message. An annual tradition that sees the privilege of reading His Majesty’s message rotated amongst the Commonwealth consular corps in Hong Kong, this year the message was read by His Majesty’s New Zealand Consul-General, Mr Peter Lund. The King’s Commonwealth Day Message acknowledges the ongoing challenges of conflict, climate change, and rapid transformation, whilst expressing optimism about the ability of the Commonwealth to unite behind shared values and history to boost prosperous trading links, harness the potential of a growing young population, and to conserve the environment to ensure that the Commonwealth continues to be a force for good in the world. RCSHK Vice Chairman, Sir Nicholas Tam, commented that “His Majesty the King’s Commonwealth Day Message reassured our diverse and large family of nations that regardless of the challenges confronting us in today’s world, our shared heritage and values as members of the Commonwealth family stand us in good stead to rise to the occasion to build a stronger, more prosperous and just world for all of humanity”. About Commonwealth Day Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations. From 1977 onwards, it has taken place on the second Monday in March each year in a tradition that dates back to 1958. Each year, the Head of the Commonwealth releases a Commonwealth Day Message. The cultural and religious diversity embodied by the Commonwealth is celebrated by interfaith observances and flag-raising ceremonies. A new Commonwealth theme is proposed each year by representatives of the Commonwealth civil society organisations to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and presented for approval to His Majesty King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth. It guides activities through the year, including events to mark Commonwealth Day. On 9 March 2026 people in Commonwealth countries and communities in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe observed the day with a range of activities, including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag raising ceremonies, street parties and cultural events. About the Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch Founded in 1983, the Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch connects Commonwealth citizens through cultural exchange, charitable action, and advocacy for the Commonwealth’s values of diversity, tolerance, and international cooperation. The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 independent nations linked by shared history, language, and values—strengthening global trade and cooperation through what economists call the “Commonwealth Advantage.”   Sir Nicholas Tam, GCLR, KCRRoyal Commonwealth Society in Hong Kong vc@rcshk.com This article was originally published on Einpresswire and is reproduced here with permission. [View the original post →]

RCS Hong Kong Branch – Commonwealth Day 2025 March 10, 2026 Interfaith Service and Reception On 10th March, Commonwealth Day, RCS Hong Kong Branch held our annual interfaith service, officiated by Rev. Shazz Turnquest, alongside leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Zoroastrian faith communities.  Prayers were said for peace and for the Commonwealth, followed by the Act of Affirmation to the Commonwealth, led by Alexandra Tracy, Chairman of RCS Hong Kong. Leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Zoroastrian faiths then came forward to light candles on the alter, representing the virtues of Faith, Hope, Love, Peace.  This was followed by the lighting of the Commonwealth candle by Vice Chairman of RCS Hong Kong, Sir Nicholas Tam, and the lighting of the Hong Kong and China candle by Neville Shroff, President of RCS Hong Kong. The interfaith service was followed by the Official Reception for the King’s Commonwealth Day Message at the Hong Kong Club.  Charles Reeve, Consul General of Canada, read His Majesty King Charles’ Commonwealth Day Message   Cenotaph Commemoration In addition to our annual service and reception, this year RCS Hong Kong Branch inaugurated an important new tradition for Commonwealth Day here. During the Second World War, in 1941 the Japanese invaded and took possession of the territory.  Commonwealth forces – mostly British, Canadian and Indian, as well as the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force – suffered as many as 2,275 missing or killed during the Battle of Hong Kong.  A further 10,000 were taken as prisoners of war. Those who fell in battle are commemorated across Hong Kong at Stanley Military Cemetery, at Sai Wan Cemetery and during the Remembrance Day formalities every year on November 11th at the Cenotaph in Central.  From this year, in an annual ceremony, we will also honour the fallen on our own day – Commonwealth Day. On the morning of 10th March 2025, there was a service of commemoration at the Cenotaph, with prayers for those who gave their lives in battle.  A trumpeter played the Last Post, the flag of the Commonwealth was flown at half mast during the Two Minutes Silence and we laid a wreath of remembrance.  This was followed by a breakfast function. We are delighted to be able to add this ceremony to our longstanding activities on Commonwealth Day each year, thereby honouring the past as well as looking forward to the future. This article was originally published on Royal Commonwealth Society and is reproduced here with permission. [View the original post →]

Mrs Joan Campbell MBE was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Dance April 17, 2026 Mrs Joan Campbell MBE, former Chairman of RCS, HK Branch, was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Dance on 13 September 2023. Joan has taught dance in Hong Kong for 70 years.

Chairman of RCS, HK Branch, Peter Mann, receives his MBE from HRH The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on 8 June 2022 June 16, 2022 Chairman of RCS, HK Branch, Peter Mann, receives his MBE from HRH The Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on 8 June 2022.

Hong Kong celebrates Commonwealth Day 2022 April 12, 2022 Since the Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch (RCSHK) was established in 1983, RCSHK has customarily celebrated Commonwealth Day with a cocktail reception at The Hong Kong Club attended by branch members, the Commonwealth consular corps, and a diverse range of citizens and friends of the Commonwealth community in Hong Kong. For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, due to current government regulations RCSHK took to Zoom to host a Virtual Commonwealth Day 2022 celebration in collaboration with our friends at the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong (CCCHK). This was RCSHK’s inaugural virtual event, with the branch having succeeded in organising regular physical events throughout the ongoing pandemic period notwithstanding the limitations imposed by social distancing requirements.   Approximately 50 attendees representing the Commonwealth community in Hong Kong and the Asia region joined the virtual event, which was addressed by RCSHK Chairman, Mr. Peter Mann MBE, CCCHK Chairman, Ms. Julia Charlton, and RCSHK Co-Patron, Mr. Andrew Wells. The Commonwealth Affirmation was led by Peter Mann, with HM British Consul-General to Hong Kong, Mr. Brian Davidson CMG reading HM The Queen’s Commonwealth Day Message 2022. The honour of reading HM The Queen’s Commonwealth Day message rotates annually amongst the Commonwealth consuls-general in Hong Kong. Other members of the Commonwealth diplomatic corps in attendance included the consuls-general from Bangladesh, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Singapore.     The honour of proposing the Loyal Toast to HM The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth in this special year of the Platinum Jubilee fell to Mr Nicholas Tam, RCSHK Council Member and Chairman of the RCSHK Young Fellows. Attendees drank enthusiastically to the good health of HM The Queen, with many looking forward to the Platinum Jubilee Dinner scheduled for Thursday 2 June 2022 at The Hong Kong Club. The event concluded with a Commonwealth Quiz hosted by Nicholas Tam, which tested participants on their knowledge of the Commonwealth. Split into two rounds of twelve questions, participants demonstrated their knowledge of (or otherwise learned) a series of fun facts about the Commonwealth, including the following:   Singapore is the Commonwealth country with the highest GDP per capita; Tuvalu has the smallest population of any Commonwealth country; ‘Nollywood’, as Nigeria’s movie industry is known, is larger than Hollywood and second only to India’s Bollywood for number of movies produced; The Commonwealth is home to 33% of the global population; Lawn Bowls is played at the Commonwealth Games, but not the Olympics; Botswana is the Commonwealth’s largest diamond producer (by carats), and second globally (behind Russia) French, Mandarin, and Portuguese are all official languages of at least one Commonwealth country Each $1 spent by the host city of the Commonwealth Games generates $2 for the local economy   Congratulations to Keith Jones, David Keating, Shanling Wells, Tony Lau, Victor Hui and Hari Om Dahiya for ranking among the top scorers. Each will receive one bottle of Commonwealth wine as a prize, kindly sponsored by The Honourable Jeffrey Lam GBS JP, Honorary Advisor to CCCHK.   Author Nicholas Tam is Council Member and Young Fellows Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch. He is qualified to practise law in Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, and relocated from Australia to Hong Kong in 2013.   This article was originally published on Royal Commonwealth Society and is reproduced here with permission. [View the original post →]

Mrs Joan Campbell MBE June 13, 2016 We are delighted to announce that our past Chairman, Mrs Joan Campbell, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her services to dance in Hong Kong.  

Year of the Monkey Charitable Dinner March 7, 2016 On 5 March 2016, RCS and Por Yen Charitable Foundation held a joint event t the China Club to raise money for 15 scholarships in Business Administration at the Institute for Vocational Education (IVE), part of the VTC Group. RCS Council members will attend the interviews to ensure that the scholarships go to deserving students. The 36 guests were treated to a delicious Chinese banquet and enjoyed Chinese music and dance. Thanks go to our patron, Dr Aron Harlilela, the Por Yen Foundation and other guests for their generous donations.